Harding University made 19 3-pointers en route to a 102-83 Great American Conference men’s basketball win over Arkansas Tech University at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Monday night.
The Bisons (8-6 overall, 7-2 GAC) connected on 13-of-17 shots from beyond the 3-point arc in the first half while building a 54-49 halftime edge.
Arkansas Tech (9-6, 4-5) pulled within 58-57 early in the second half, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Will Francis and Jacob Gibson rebuilt the Harding lead to 64-57 with 16:06 to go.
The margin ballooned to 13 points midway through the second half before consecutive 3-point plays by Nick Wayman and Tyrone Haughton allowed the Wonder Boys to trim the Bisons’ advantage to 80-73 at the 7:41 mark.
It proved to be Arkansas Tech’s last stand. Gibson and Stefan Andelkovic made a 3-pointer apiece in rapid succession to give Harding an 86-76 lead with 6:46 remaining. The Bisons maintained at least a 10-point spread the rest of the way.
Harding finished 19-of-31 (61 percent) from 3-point range. The Bisons had 25 assists and 10 turnovers.
Blake McNair led Harding with 25 points. He was 7-of-8 from beyond the arc. Gibson made 7-of-10 treys and notched 23 points. Andelkovic (22 points) and Reggie Anthony (14 points) completed a quartet of Bisons in double figures.
Marquis Yates and Andrew Guillory paced the Wonder Boys with 15 points apiece. Freddy Lee had 14 points, Tyler Corley netted 11 points and Jerry Owens contributed 10 points for Arkansas Tech, which lost its fourth consecutive game.
The Wonder Boys will be at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 21, for a 7:30 p.m. GAC contest against Henderson State University. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will have live coverage.
