SEARCY, Ark. – Following consecutive Great American Conference tournament championships and back-to-back trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, the Harding men's basketball team begins its 2026-27 campaign this weekend facing one of the most challenging opening schedules in program history.

The Bisons travel to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, to compete in the Midwest Region Tip-Off Challenge at JustAgame Fieldhouse. Harding opens Friday night against No. 17 Grand Valley State (8:15 p.m. CST), squares off against 2026 GLIAC regular-season champion Northern Michigan on Saturday (8:15 p.m.), and concludes the showcase Sunday afternoon against former conference rival Central Oklahoma (3:45 p.m.).

Under fourth-year head coach Weston Jameson (58-35), the Bisons have reestablished a championship pedigree in Searcy. Last winter, Harding posted a 24-8 overall record—its highest single-season victory total in 15 years—and rattled off a school-record 11-game winning streak en route to capturing its second straight GAC Tournament crown with a 73-68 victory over Southern Nazarene.

Despite entering March as the league's dominant force over the past two seasons, the Bisons were slotted third in the 2026-27 GAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 101 points. Ouachita Baptist (115 points, seven first-place votes) and Oklahoma Baptist (110 points, five first-place votes) claimed the top two spots.

Reloading the Rotation

The Bisons enter the season tasked with replacing three senior starters who formed the backbone of back-to-back championship runs, most notably two-time GAC Tournament MVP Keyln McBride and defensive anchor Wesley Booker. McBride graduated as Harding's all-time leader in made 3-pointers (262) and career free-throw percentage (.917), while Booker finished second in program history in career blocked-shot average (1.2) after pulling down 261 rebounds a year ago.

Stepping into the spotlight is reigning GAC Freshman of the Year Reggie Webster. The 6-foot-6 second-year guard from Mount Pleasant, Texas, led Harding in total scoring as a true freshman with 432 points (13.5 ppg) and 5.3 rebounds per contest while starting all 32 games. Webster proved to be one of the region's premier slashers, making 110 free throws and burying 48 three-pointers, including 21 points in the GAC title game.

Joining Webster in the backcourt is fourth-year veteran Ty Suess (6-5, Indianapolis, Ind.). A 31-game starter in 2025-26, Suess averaged 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds while earning College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors with a 3.93 GPA in finance. Suess provides defensive length on the perimeter and dependable foul shooting (78.0%).

In the frontcourt, 6-foot-7 third-year forward Marko Rangan (Sydney, Australia) returns after serving as Harding's top scoring weapon off the bench. Rangan paced the team with a 53.7% field goal percentage, averaging 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while scoring in double figures 12 times—highlighted by a 23-point performance against Ouachita Baptist and 17 points in the NCAA regional quarterfinal against Oklahoma Baptist.

Harding also returns tested depth in fourth-year guard Rece Hipp (41.9% career 3-point shooter), fourth-year forward Dylan Munroe (6-8, 235), third-year guard Ornette Gaines, and second-year contributors Dylan Hall, Toby Pike, and Karter Holland.

Portal Reinforcements

To complement eight returning letterwinners, Jameson dipped into the transfer portal to add immediate collegiate experience on both ends of the floor.

Fifth-year forward Bradley Land (6-6, 225, Colleyville, Texas) arrives in Searcy after previous stops at Radford and Colorado Christian. Land was an All-RMAC performer at CC, averaging 14.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 50.3% from the field in 2024-25. He brings 696 career collegiate points and physical interior rebounding to the Bison frontline.

On the perimeter, fourth-year guard Ben Fox (6-5, 195, Little Rock, Ark.) joins the program after starting 22 games at the Division I level for Central Arkansas. Fox drained 53 three-pointers while averaging 6.5 points and 2.2 rebounds for the Bears in 2024-25.

Freshmen Ayden Hansberry (North Little Rock Parkview), BJ Knowlton (Jonesboro), and Luke Stephens (Henry County, Tenn.) round out the incoming class.

Defensive Identity Remains the Hallmark

While personnel has shifted, the Bisons' blueprint remains rooted in defensive toughness and glass control. During the 2025-26 championship run, Harding finished 12th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense (64.3 ppg), 10th in rebound margin (+7.8), and 10th in free-throw percentage (78.4%).

The coaching staff also features a familiar face in a new role. Former Bison standout Louis Bonner (Harding '00) returned to his alma mater in May as assistant coach under Jameson, replacing Bradley Spencer, who stepped down to enter private business. Bonner previously served as head coach at Bossier Parish Community College and Central Arkansas Christian.

Opening Gauntlet

Friday's opener against No. 17 Grand Valley State gives Harding an immediate opportunity to notch a signature top-25 win. The Bisons own a 19-45 all-time record against ranked opponents, but their highest winning percentage (.455, 5-6) has come on neutral floors. Harding went 2-2 against top-20 opponents last season, upsetting then-No. 7 Southern Nazarene and No. 20 Ouachita Baptist.

Following the three-game weekend in Wisconsin, Harding visits No. 25 Alabama-Huntsville on Nov. 9 before traveling to Springfield, Missouri, for the Central Region Challenge against Southwest Baptist and Drury on Nov. 13-14.

The Bisons make their 2026-27 home debut at Rhodes-Reaves Field House on Thursday, Nov. 19, hosting Dallas Baptist at noon.