Box Score

Harding Hard 22-10,15-7 GAC

Washburn Wash 27-3,17-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Harding Hard

22-10,15-7 GAC

Final

Mar. 15, 2025

Washburn Wash

27-3,17-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Harding Hard	26	31	57
Washburn Wash	41	44	85

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 3/15/2025 8:15:00 PM

Harding's Season Ends with 85-57 Loss to Top-Seeded Washburn

TOPEKA, Kan. — Harding's remarkable season came to a close Saturday as the Bisons fell 85-57 to top-seeded Washburn in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament.

Despite a valiant effort, the Bisons (22-10) struggled to contain No. 1 seed Washburn's high-powered offense, which shot 55.9% from the field. Harding, meanwhile, shot just 36.8%.

Rylie Marshall led No. 8 seed Harding with 16 points, while Sam Smith added 11. The Bisons' offense got off to a slow start, missing their first seven shots before Smith hit a jumper in the lane with 15:52 left in the first half.

Harding trailed 41-26 at halftime and was unable to mount a comeback in the second half. Washburn made its first five shots of the second half to extend its lead to 54-28 with 17:57 remaining.

A bright spot for Harding was its free-throw shooting. The Bisons made 9 of 10 attempts, capping off a record-breaking season from the line. Harding finished the season shooting 80.4% from the free-throw line, breaking the 56-year-old school record of 80.0% set by the 1968-69 team.

Harding was making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2016.

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