SEARCY — The Harding men's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with the heavy weight of expectation after a 22-10 finish, a Great American Conference Tournament Championship, and an NCAA Tournament appearance last year. Despite the success, the Bisons are essentially undertaking a roster renovation, tasked with replacing the bulk of their scoring while integrating new talent into a tough GAC slate. Picked third in the GAC Preseason Poll, coach Weston Jameson's team is built on a foundation of veteran leadership and proven outside shooting.
The Bisons' campaign begins with a difficult non-conference weekend in the Central Region Challenge in Skiatook, Okla., giving the coaching staff an immediate look at how the new rotation performs. They face Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday, Nov. 14 (4 p.m.), followed by Rogers State on Saturday, Nov. 15 (4:30 p.m.). Both opponents are Lone Star Conference members.
The home opener is Tuesday, Nov. 18 (7 p.m.) against Christian Brothers, which starts a crucial pre-conference period that also includes hosting Southwest Baptist (Nov. 20) and Mission (Nov. 22).
The GAC schedule tips off at home against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday, Dec. 4 (7:30 p.m.), followed by Northwestern Oklahoma (Dec. 6, 3 p.m.).
Key Conference Matchups
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Rivalry Games: The traditional rivalry against Ouachita Baptist begins with a road trip on Thursday, Dec. 18. The Bisons host the Tigers later in the season on Saturday, Jan. 24. They finish the regular season on the road against Henderson State on Saturday, Feb. 28.
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The Oklahoma Gauntlet: The most crucial road swing comes in early January when Harding faces the league's top-tier teams in Oklahoma, traveling to Southern Nazarene (Jan. 8) and Oklahoma Baptist (Jan. 10).
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Tournament Time: The GAC Championship Tournament returns to Fort Smith, Arkansas, running from March 5-8.
Roster Overview: The Key Personnel and Scoring Solution
Harding's primary challenge is personnel: replacing four of their top five scorers (Sam Smith, Rylie Marshall, Josh Denton, and Stetson Smithson) who combined for nearly 50 points per game.
The Returners Starters
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Keyln McBride (G, Sr., #1): The engine of the team. As the GAC Tournament MVP, McBride returns after averaging 14.6 points and a GAC-best 46.4% three-point percentage.
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Wesley Booker (G, 5th, #3): A reliable, full-time starter who brings veteran experience and defensive know-how to the backcourt.
Coach Jameson and Coach Spencer have 14 newcomers, including transfers Rece Hipp (Henderson State), Thompson Camara (Charleston Southern), Ty Suess (Southern Illinois), Martez Burse (ASU-Newport), Ben Linnemeyer (Tennessee) and Marko Rangan (Otero College), and six true freshmen.
