RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech men's basketball team lost a closely contested game at home against Harding on Thursday night by a score of 63-61.
In the first half, each team traded having a multi-possession advantage with Harding grabbing the first one after jumping out to a 6-0 lead on consecutive made three-pointers to start the game. The Bisons' next two made field goals were also from beyond the arch, but the Wonder Boys were weathering that storm and only trailed by four after that fourth trifecta by Harding.
By the 14:40 mark of the first half, the Wonder Boys took their first lead on a layup by
Seybian Sims. By the 11:02 mark, the Wonder Boys had a seven-point lead, 19-12, as they capped an 11-0 run that started back at the 15:19 mark on a layup by
Cassius Brooks. The final basket in that Tech run was a layup by
Savier McCall, who went on to score a season-high nine points.
With under four minutes to play in the first half, Tech had pushed their lead out as high as nine points, 27-18, but Harding closed the half on an 11-2 run to tie the score at 29-all at the break. Nine of those points during that late run were three-pointers.
Coming out of the locker room, Harding took the first advantage in the second half and made three-straight layups to go up by six, 35-29. The Wonder Boys were able to find their footing and knotted the score at 38-all at the 16:04 mark. Harding stayed in the lead at that point, however.
At the 12-minute mark, the Wonder Boys had taken their first lead of the second half on a layup by Sims. Unfortunately, the Bisons got hot from long range again, making consecutive three's to go up by five, 48-43, with 11:03 to play.
About a minute later, the lead was as high as eight points as the Bisons made good on a three-shot trip to the charity stripe. A quick 5-0 spurt by the Wonder Boys, however, got them back within three of the lead.
Harding would be able to hold the Wonder Boys at bay the rest of the way out to complete the road win.
The Wonder Boys were led in scoring by Brooks with 19 points. He was followed by Sims with 13.
Tech will now prepare for another home game this coming Saturday afternoon against Ouachita Baptist. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Tucker Coliseum.
