SEARCY, Ark. - Don't let the record fool you. Head Coach
Jason Eaker knew the Harding Bisons were better than the record indicated and would be a tough match-up for the Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon.
Harding shot 16 of 28 (57%) in the first half and held a 39-37 lead on their Senior Day, but the Bison defense settled in and shut down the Bisons in the second half, holding them to 6 of 27 (22%) and storming back to take a 76-59 victory and move their win streak to four in a row and six of their last seven.
The Bison were consistent, shooting 27 of 62 (44%) from the field and 8 of 21 (38%) from deep. OBU was 14 of 19 (74%) from the charity stripe. On the other side, Harding finished 22 of 55 (40%) from the field and 6 of 22 (27%) from deep including 9 of 13 (69%) from the line.
OBU outrebounded Harding 37-35 and forced the Bisons into 19 turnovers while only giving it away 12 times. OBU also held a 36-28 advantage in the paint.
It was a game of runs in the first half. After Harding opened up a 4-0 lead, the Bison scored eight straight behind four points from
Dishon Lowery and a 3-pointer from
Jarius Hicklen. Harding responded with an 8-0 run of their own to move ahead 11-8. The Bisons maintained a 17-13 lead before another 8-0 run, this time aided by four from
Harrison Stoddart, gave OBU a 21-17 lead.
Harding fought back as OBU held a 25-23 lead after a massive dunk from Lowery. However, Harding proceeded to go on a 9-0 run to move ahead and take a 32-25 lead. The Bisons kept that lead at seven with less than four to play.
Stoddart had a basket while
Rashad Lewis finished a 3-point play to cut it down to two. The two went back-and-forth before a 3-point basket got the lead to 39-34. With the clock winding down, Lewis stepped back and launched a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer and scorched the nylon to send all the momentum in OBU's favor despite trailing 39-37 at the break.
The momentum swing was evident as the second half started as the Bison went on a 10-0 tear as Lewis opened up with a 3-pointer while
Jaquan Simms had four points. Harding did not score until finally connecting on a free throw at the 15 minute mark.
The Bisons got it back down to three before a Stoddart 3-pointer and a
Brantly Thompson lay in pushed it back to eight. Harding had one more push to a three point game with 11 minutes to play, but that was as close as the Bisons would get as OBU responded with an 8-0 to move ahead by 11 at 60-49 thanks to more dominant play by the seniors Lewis and Lowery.
Harding would get as close as five points, but a pair of free throws from Simms and eight straight points, including two 3-pointers, from Lewis put the game out of reach at 70-57 with four minutes to play.
A Stoddart 3-pointer was the dagger as OBU closed out the game with a 76-59 win over Harding, holding the Bisons to only 20 points in the second half.
Lewis was terrific again, going for 23 points of 9 of 16 shooting including four 3-pointers, four assists, and three steals. Stoddart added 15 points while Lowery had his second straight double-double with 12 points and 10 boards to go with four steals. Simms poured in 10 points, six boards, and three assists while Thompson and Hicklen each had eight points.
Romio Harvey led Harding with 20 points while Davis Morgan scored 15 points.
Oklahoma Baptist moves to 18-8 overall and 13-7 in the GAC, looking to hold on to the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Central Regional Rankings. The Bison will close out the regular season next week at home beginning on Thursday as they welcome in Arkansas-Monticello to the Noble Complex for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
