TOPEKA, Kan. – In a battle of Great American Conference titans, the No. 7-seeded Harding Bisons saw their school-record 11-game winning streak come to an end Saturday afternoon, falling 77-68 to No. 2-seeded Oklahoma Baptist in the NCAA Division II Central Region Quarterfinals at Lee Arena.
Despite a valiant effort and a dominant performance on the glass, Harding (24-8) could not overcome a late scoring surge by the GAC regular-season champion Bison (28-3). The loss concludes a historic season for Harding, marked by 24 wins—the program's highest total since the 2010-11 campaign.
Back-and-Forth Battle
Harding opened the game with defensive intensity, jumping out to an early 9-4 lead behind a Thompson Camara dunk and a Keyln McBride 3-pointer. After OBU answered with a 12-2 run to take the lead, the Bisons responded with 10 straight points of their own. Camara and sophomore Marko Rangan fueled the spurt, helping Harding reclaim a 21-16 advantage midway through the first half.
The momentum swung back to Oklahoma Baptist late in the period as they utilized a 14-0 run to build a seven-point cushion. However, McBride provided the highlight of the half, driving for a high-arching left-handed scoop shot that kissed off the glass as the buzzer sounded, trimming the deficit to 35-32 at the break.
During the first half, McBride surpassed head coach Weston Jameson for fourth place on Harding's all-time career assists list, further cementing his legacy in the Black and Gold.
The Second Half Surge
Oklahoma Baptist opened the second half on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to double digits. Harding refused to go quietly, clawing back within four points at 56-52 following a 7-0 run highlighted by five quick points from Ty Suess.
With 7:42 remaining, a Reggie Webster 3-pointer from the left wing brought the Bisons within three at 58-55. However, OBU's Terry Coner Jr. and Joshua Udoumoh took over down the stretch. Coner Jr. finished with a team-high 17 points, while Udoumoh matched him with 17 of his own, including a critical 3-pointer that ignited a 7-0 OBU run to push the lead back to 10.
Harding's Marko Rangan was nearly perfect off the bench, scoring 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting to keep the Bisons within striking distance, but Oklahoma Baptist's transition game (17-3 edge in fast-break points) ultimately proved the difference.
Stat Leaders
Rangan led Harding with 17 points and three rebounds. Freshman Reggie Webster added 13 points, while Ty Suess and Thompson Camara each chipped in 10. Senior Wesley Booker recorded a game-high 12 rebounds and three blocks in his final collegiate appearance.
Harding dominated the rebounding battle 40-38 and shot a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, but struggled from deep, hitting just 26.7% of their 3-point attempts.
Season in Review
The 2025-26 season remains one of the most successful in Harding history. Under third-year head coach Weston Jameson, the Bisons secured their second consecutive GAC Tournament Championship and made their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance. The team's 11-game winning streak entering the tournament set a new school record, and their 24 wins stand as a benchmark for the program's modern era.
