FORT SMITH, Ark. — Behind a career-best performance from Keyln McBride and a flurry of overtime three-pointers, No. 2-seed Harding outlasted No. 1-seed Ouachita Baptist 81-78 in a thriller on Saturday afternoon at Northside Arena.

The victory marks Harding's 10th consecutive win, tying a school record for the longest winning streak in program history. With the win, the Bisons (23-7) advance to the Great American Conference Tournament Championship for the second straight season, where they will face Southern Nazarene in a rematch of last year's final.

McBride was the story of the afternoon, erupting for a career-high 31 points. The senior guard knocked down seven three-pointers, setting a new Bison record for most triples in a GAC Tournament game. His 17 attempts from beyond the arc also tied a school record.

Overtime Excellence

After the teams finished regulation deadlocked at 67-67, Harding's offense found another gear in the extra period. The Bisons were a perfect 3-for-3 from the field in overtime—all from three-point range. McBride hit two of those triples, including a deep shot with 37 seconds remaining to push the lead to 77-74.

After Ouachita (23-7) cut the lead to one on a PJ Neal layup, McBride remained composed at the free-throw line, sinking four straight in the final 20 seconds to seal the win.

Battle of Attrition

The game was a physical, defensive struggle that featured 13 lead changes, 12 ties, and 52 total fouls. Harding's defense held firm despite the Tigers shooting 56.4% from the field. While the Tigers dominated the paint (36-24), the Bisons used an 11-4 advantage in made three-pointers to offset the interior discrepancy.

Harding also found crucial production from Toby Pike, who provided a second-half spark with seven points on 3-of-3 shooting, and Reggie Webster, who finished with 17 points and five rebounds before fouling out in overtime.

Historic Context

This win marks the second consecutive year that Harding has eliminated rival Ouachita Baptist in the GAC semifinals. It also sets the stage for the Bisons to pursue their third GAC Tournament crown (2014, 2025) and earn its second straight NCAA Tournament bid.

Key Stats

• Keyln McBride: 31 points (7-17 3PT), 10-10 FT

• Reggie Webster: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

• Harding Team: 11-32 3PT (34.4%), 24-29 FT (82.8%)

• Bench Points: Harding 13, Ouachita 15

Up Next

Harding will face Southern Nazarene for the GAC Championship on Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Fort Smith.