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Harding University Athletics

Harding men's basketball
55
Southern Nazarene SN 9-2,6-1 GAC
75
Winner Harding Hard 9-4,5-2 GAC
Southern Nazarene SN
9-2,6-1 GAC
55
Final
75
Harding Hard
9-4,5-2 GAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Southern Nazarene SN 27 28 55
Harding Hard 42 33 75

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Harding Blasts No. 23 Southern Nazarene 75-55

SEARCY - The Harding Bisons snapped a 14-game skid against nationally ranked teams, defeating No. 23 Southern Nazarene 75-55 in a Great American Conference men's basketball game Thursday at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

Harding (9-4, 5-2 GAC) used a strong first half to build a 42-27 lead. The Bisons made 7 of 12 3-pointers in the half, including consecutive shots from Josh Denton and Keyln McBride, followed by a traditional three-point play from Denton to give Harding a 31-19 lead.

In the second half, Southern Nazarene (9-2, 6-1 GAC) briefly cut the deficit to 51-42, but Harding's Wyatt Gilbert responded with a 30-foot 3-pointer to push the lead back to 10. The Bisons then used a 10-0 run, capped by seven points from Sam Smith, to take a 70-50 lead with 3:51 remaining.

Harding's balanced offense featured four players in double-figure scoring. McBride led the Bisons with 16 points, making all four of his 3-point attempts. Smith added 15 points and 13 rebounds, his second double-double, while Gilbert and Denton contributed 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bisons made 12 of 23 3-pointers and committed a season-low five turnovers. Harding's defense held Southern Nazarene to 6 of 27 (22.2%) shooting from 3-point range and limited the Crimson Storm to just two field goals in the final seven minutes.

Stevie Strong led Southern Nazarene with 22 points off the bench.

The victory marked Harding's first home win over a nationally ranked team since Nov. 26, 2012, when the Bisons defeated No. 12 Christian Brothers 68-63 in overtime. Notably, Harding head coach Weston Jameson and assistant coach Bradley Spencer both played in that 2012 game. Thursday's win was Harding's fourth home victory over a nationally ranked team since 1997. Harding's last win over a ranked team at any location was a 74-70 victory over No. 6 Midwestern State in a game played in Russellville, Arkansas, on Nov. 29, 2013.

Harding's next outing is Saturday at home against Oklahoma Baptist, who is part of a three-way tie for first in the GAC with Harding one game back.
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