SEARCY, Ark. – Harding utilized a lethal perimeter attack and a suffocating defense to dismantle Arkansas Tech 78-48 on Thursday night at Rhodes-Reaves Adventure Center. The victory marked the 50th career win for Bisons head coach Weston Jameson and represented the largest margin of victory for Harding in the 154-game history of the rivalry.
The Bisons (16-7, 12-5 GAC) maintained their dominance at home, improving to 13-1 in Searcy, while the Wonder Boys (8-15, 6-11 GAC) remained winless on the road this season.
Harding effectively ended the contest in the first half. After Arkansas Tech took a brief 2-0 lead on the opening possession, the Bisons responded with a barrage of three-pointers. A 19-2 run over a six-minute stretch late in the period pushed the lead as high as 28 points. Keyln McBride ignited the offense early, scoring 13 of his points before the break to help Harding to a 44-19 halftime advantage.
The Wonder Boys struggled to find any rhythm against the Bisons' pressure, shooting just 26.9% in the first half. Tech went more than five minutes without a basket during Harding's decisive surge and finished the game with 19 turnovers to just six assists.
Reggie Webster led a balanced Harding attack with 18 points and six assists. McBride finished with 13 points and four assists, moving within one three-pointer of Jacob Gibson for second place on Harding's all-time career list. Wesley Booker added 10 points and three steals in the winning effort.
Harding's ball movement was the difference maker, as the Bisons recorded 19 assists on 27 made field goals. Their 14 three-pointers were the most Arkansas Tech has allowed to an opponent all season.
Arkansas Tech was led by Sam Bradford, who provided a spark off the bench with 13 points. Devin Foster added eight points and eight rebounds, but the Wonder Boys couldn't overcome a 23-8 deficit in points off turnovers.
The Bisons led by as many as 34 points in the second half, allowing Jameson to empty his bench late in the game. Ten different Bisons found the scoring column in the rout.
Harding goes on the road Saturday at 5 p.m. to take on Southern Arkansas in Magnolia.
