Box Score (html)
SEARCY, Ark. – Harding held SWOSU without a field goal for better than 10 minutes in the second half, using a 19-0 run to pull away for a 77-50 victory on Saturday evening at Rhodes-Reaves Field House in Searcy.
After trailing 36-28 at the break, the Bulldogs outscored Harding 13-8 during the first couple minutes of the second half, getting within three at 44-41 with 16:55 to play on a lay-in by
Reshardd Harris. Over the next 10 minutes, however, SWOSU was held scoreless while Harding went on a 19-0 run to extend their lead to 63-41 with 6:33 to play. A free throw by Harris stopped the scoreless streak and a
Markeise Champion hit a three-pointer with 5:02 to play, but the game was out of hand at that point.
Champion led the Bulldogs with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-8 from behind the arc while Harris was 5-of-9 from the field for 12 points.
Devin Pugh and
Collin Jennings had eight points apiece and the rest of the SWOSU lineup combined to score nine points as the Dawgs finished 20-of-66 (30.3%) from the field and 6-of-26 (23.1%) from three-point range.
"This is the second straight game where the final score doesn't necessarily reflect the effort put forth by our team," SWOSU Head Coach
Bob Battisti said after the game. "We tried everything in the second half, but we just couldn't hit shots and you can't win at Harding if you don't put the ball in the basket. Our guys are hungry to get back in the gym, so we will get back to work on Monday and keep getting better."
The loss drops the Bulldogs to 0-4 on the year and they start the year 0-2 in Great American Conference play. SWOSU is back on the road next Saturday, facing Central Missouri at 2:00 pm in Warrensburg, Missouri.
