14 Feb 2024 Harding’s dominant win marks fifth consecutive home triumph

Posted at 4:42 PMh in Sports by

SEARCY – Harding sophomore Rylie Marshall’s stellar performance, with 18 of his team-leading 21 points scored in the first half, propelled the Bisons to an impressive 88-58 victory over Southern Nazarene in Great American Conference men’s basketball action at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House on Saturday.

With four wins in their last five games, Harding stands at 11-11 overall and 8-8 in conference play, currently tied with Southwestern Oklahoma for fourth place in the GAC standings. The top eight teams qualify for the GAC Tournament in March.

This victory marked Harding’s fifth consecutive win at home, the best streak at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House since the 2015-16 season when the team won seven straight games.

Harding held a 39-32 lead at halftime and seized control of the game in the second half. Within the first five minutes after halftime, Harding outscored Southern Nazarene 19-5, including a 9-0 run that extended the Bisons’ lead to 58-37 with 14:42 remaining.

The Bisons maintained their momentum, making all 14 of their free throws in the second half and securing a commanding 30-point victory, the largest in series history. This win snapped Harding’s 14-game losing streak against the Crimson Storm, marking the team’s first victory over Southern Nazarene since Dec. 3, 2015.

Marshall’s impressive shooting performance included 8-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, marking his fourth 20-point game of the season.

Contributing to Harding’s success, Sam Smith added 15 points and a team-leading eight rebounds, while Brahm Harris and Sam Henderson each added 10 points.

Looking ahead, Harding aims to extend its home winning streak to six games tonight when it hosts second-place Arkansas Tech at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.