Harding Falls on Late 3-Pointer in Hawaii

Courtesy Harding University Athletics Department

HONOLULU, Hawaii – St. Edward’s guard Jeff Campbell made a 3-pointer with six seconds left in the game to give the Hilltoppers a 69-66 victory over Harding on Monday at the O’ahu Classic.

The loss dropped Harding to 7-3 on the season, as the Bisons split their two games in Hawai’i. Harding defeated 10th-ranked Northwest Missouri State on Sunday.

St. Edward’s (8-6) won both of their games at the Classic. The Bisons defeated the Hilltoppers 79-62 earlier this season in Searcy.

Harding led 30-25 at halftime despite missing its first eight 3-point attempts, and St. Edward’s struggled from the field as well. The Hilltoppers shot just 37 percent and made only 2-of-12 3-pointers.

Harding extended its lead to 13 points, 48-35, on a Zach Roddenberry dunk with 13:33 left. The Bisons did not score another field goal for nearly five minutes, as the Hilltoppers went on a 15-4 run that was capped by Shimeek Johnson’s 3-pointer that cut the Harding lead to 52-50 with just over eight minutes remaining.

Another Shimeek Johnson 3-pointer with 4:42 left gave St. Edward’s its first lead of the game, 61-60. Johnson, who led all players with 22 points, made two free throws with 1:24 left to tie the game at 65-65.

Harding’s Bradley Spencer put the Bisons back ahead by hitting the second of two free throws with 1:04 left. St. Edward’s James Stukes then hit the first of two free throws to tie the game again. He missed the second free throw, but the rebound went out of bounds off the Bisons, setting up Campbell’s game-winning shot.

Roddenberry led Harding with 18 points and six rebounds. He made 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 free throws. Weston Jameson added 12 points, and freshman Jacob Gibson scored a season-high 10 points.

Harding shot 47 percent but made only 4-of-16 3-pointers after hitting 13 from 3-point range against Northwest Missouri. St. Edward’s made 10 3-pointers, including eight during its second half comeback.

Harding’s next action is Dec. 30 at Christian Brothers in Memphis, Tenn.