HU Men’s Basketball Downs Southern Arkansas in Double Overtime

Courtesy HU Athletics Department

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Junior guard Weston Jameson scored six points in double overtime and led Harding to an 81-77 victory in Great American Conference action Thursday at the Watson Athletic Center. It was Harding’s victory double overtime victory since a 90-88 victory over Lyon College on Nov. 14, 1998.

Harding (13-3, 6-2) won its six straight and remains tied with Southwestern Oklahoma for the top spot in the GAC. It was also the Bisons’ sixth straight victory over the Muleriders and 18th in their last 21 contests against Southern Arkansas.

Harding trailed 62-59 late in regulation, but freshman Tony Cochran made a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left to send the game into overtime. 

Both teams scored eight points in the first overtime, sending the game to the second overtime tied 70-70.

Jameson, who finished with a season-high 13 points, hit the first shot of the second overtime, a 3-pointer from the right wing. After Southern Arkansas cut the lead back to one point, Jameson made a layup to put Harding back up by three. Jameson made a free throw with 28 seconds left, and Cochran made two free throws with five seconds left to seal the victory.

Cochran made 5-of-10 3-pointers and led Harding with 21 points. Junior Hayden Johnson made four 3-pointers and had 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Senior Zach Roddenberry had his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 16 rebounds.

After shooting 3-of-17 from 3-point range in the first half, Harding made 7-of-11 3-pointers in the second period and 2-of-5 in the overtimes. 

Rodney Hill led Southern Arkansas with 19 points and Brandon Demmings had 18.

Southern Arkansas led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Harding closed the gap and went to halftime tied at 31-31. Harding held a 12-point lead with 9:02 left in regulation.

Harding returns to the Rhodes Field House on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Arkansas-Monticello.