HU Men’s Basketball Hosts GAC Leader SW Oklahoma on Thursday

All Access, Basketball, Featured | January 4, 2013 by | 0 Comments

Courtesy HU Athletics Department

SEARCY – The Harding University men’s basketball team will return to action at the Rhodes Field House for the first time in more than a month Thursday when it meets Great American Conference leader Southwestern Oklahoma State. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

The game will air live in Searcy on KVHU-95.3 FM in Searcy with Billy Morgan and Scott Goode on the call. Live audio, video, and statistics will also be available on HardingSports.com.

Harding enters the game 8-3 overall after defeating Christian Brothers 66-48 on Sunday in Memphis, Tenn. It was the Bisons’ best defensive effort of the season and the fewest points allowed by Harding in a road game since a 66-47 victory at Cameron in 2000.

Senior forward Zach Roddenberry made 8-of-10 field goals and all five of his free throws against Christian Brothers and led the team with 21 points. The effort earned Roddenberry his third GAC Player of the Week honor. Freshman guard Tony Cochrane scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, hitting 4-of-5 3-point attempts.

The Bisons are looking to even their conference record after starting 1-2. Harding is currently seventh of ninth teams in the standings, but the Bisons have 17 more conference games remaining.

Harding has won its first six home games of the season. The Bisons have started a season with seven or more consecutive home wins only four times, with the last coming in 2008-09 when Harding won its first nine at Rhodes. The school record is 11 straight home wins to open the season in both 2002-03 and 1994-95.

Southwestern Oklahoma enters the game 4-5 overall but are 3-0 in conference and the GAC’s only remaining undefeated team. The Bulldogs will be playing only their third road game of the season and first game since a 63-54 victory at Southern Nazarene on Dec. 15.