Cochran Shoots Harding Men’s Basketball to Victory over SW Oklahoma

Courtesy HU Athletics Department

SEARCY – Harding freshman Tony Cochran made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points to keep the Bisons unbeaten at home in a 76-54 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday in Great American Conference action at Rhodes Field House.

Harding (9-3, 2-2) won its seventh straight home game to open the season for only the fifth time in program history. The Bisons last opened a season with seven or more consecutive home wins in 2008-09 when Harding won its first nine at Rhodes.

Southwestern Oklahoma (4-6, 3-1) entered the game as the only unbeaten team in GAC play, but the Bulldogs lost their fourth straight against the Bisons in Searcy.

Harding led 43-39 with 14:56 remaining in the game but went on a 12-1 run over the next six minutes and led by at least 13 points the rest of the way. During the stretch, Southwestern Oklahoma shot 0-of-5 from the field with three turnovers.

Harding limited Southwestern Oklahoma to only 36 percent shooting, including 3-of-13 from 3-point range. It was the third time in two seasons that the Bisons held a GAC opponent below 60 points.

Cochran started for the second straight game and scored 15 of his points in the second half. He made 5-of-10 3-pointers with four of those coming after halftime. It was Cochran’s second straight 20-point game and the fifth time in 12 games this season he has made four or more 3-pointers.

Harding shot 57 percent in the second half and made 7-of-11 (64 percent) from 3-point range. The Bisons outscored the Bulldogs 43-27 after the break.

Harding seniors Zach Roddenberry and Bradley Spencer were both in early foul trouble, but the Bison bench scored 19 points in the first half with 10 of those coming from freshman Andraz Kavas, who finished with 12 points. Harding led 33-27 at halftime.

Senior Adam Sterrenberg scored a season-high 13 points, and junior Weston Jameson had seven points, five rebounds and a season-high eight assists.

Thomas Davis led Southwestern Oklahoma with 13 points and eight rebounds. Dominick Cornelius, who entered the game as the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, was in foul trouble much of the game and had only four points. Southwestern Oklahoma made only 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) at the free throw line.

Harding returns to action Saturday against Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Rangers lost 78-58 at Arkansas Tech on Thursday. Tip-off on Saturday at Rhodes Field House is at 4 p.m.