SEARCY, Ark. – For the second consecutive year and the eighth time in program history, the Harding Bisons are going dancing.

Fresh off their second straight Great American Conference Tournament championship, the Bisons (24-7) have officially secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament. The NCAA Selection Committee announced Sunday night that Harding will enter the bracket as the No. 7 seed.

The Bisons are scheduled to face a familiar foe in the opening round: No. 2 seed Oklahoma Baptist. The matchup, set for Saturday, March 14, will be a clash between the GAC's regular-season champion (OBU) and its tournament champion (Harding).

The regional tournament will be hosted by No. 1 seed Washburn University at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kansas.

Harding enters the national stage as one of the hottest teams in the country, riding a school-record 11-game winning streak. Despite finishing third in the GAC regular-season standings, the Bisons proved their postseason mettle by navigating the conference tournament in Fort Smith to claim their third GAC title overall.

This marks Harding's eighth all-time appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament, following trips in 2003, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2025. It is the first time the program has made back-to-back appearances since the 2014-2016 run.

The winner of the Harding-Oklahoma Baptist game will advance to the regional semifinals on Sunday to face the winner of the matchup between No. 3 seed Central Missouri and No. 6 seed Rogers State.