Reddies Lose in Defensive Struggle to Harding Basketball Team

Courtesy HSU Athletics Department

Henderson State suffered its first loss at home this season as Harding defeated the Reddies 66-61, Thursday at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia, Ark.

In a very physical game, both teams struggled with shooting from the field as the Reddies converted on just 24-of-65 from the field for 37 percent while Harding made 17-of-43 field goals for 39 percent.

The Reddies, 8-4 overall and 3-3 in the Great American Conference, jumped out to a 7-0 lead following a layup and a 3-point field goal by Joe McCoy before Harding’s Tony Cochran ended the Bison drought with a layup at the 15:25 mark.

With Henderson leading 14-5, the Bison went on a 12-0 run to take a 17-14 lead with 8:29 remaining in the half.

Henderson went without a field goal for more than seven minutes before Andrew Ensley jump-started the Reddies with a dunk at the 7:18 mark.

The two teams traded baskets the remainder of the half and went into the locker room with the score tied at 31-31.

Harding (11-3, 4-2) opened the second half on an 8-0 run as Cochran buried a pair of treys, while Spencer Bradley knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Bisons on top 39-31 with 17:34 left in the game.

Henderson State used solid free throw shooting to stay close until the Reddies tied the game at 47-47 as Joe McCoy had a pair of driving layups and a Ensley provided a 10-foot jumper

The game remained a one possession affair for the most part with Harding holding onto the lead until a pair of Ensley free throws gave the Reddies their first lead of the second-half at 61-60 with 1:23 left to play.

Weston Jameson gave the Bisons the lead for good with a pair of free throws with 31 seconds left in the game with the Reddies failing to score the remainder of the game.

Ensley and Melvin Haynes missed 3-point field goal attempts down the stretch with the Bisons coming away with defensive rebounds both times.

Ensley ended the game with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Reddies, while McCoy added 18 points. Cory Henshall also had a solid night with 8 points and 7 boards.

Harding was led by Adam Sterrenberg’s 23 points.

Henderson struggled with its perimeter shooting as the Reddies made just 3-of-24 3-point field goals including a dismal 0-for-15 in the second half.

Meanwhile, Harding was 7-for-22 outside the arc and hit on 25-of-29 free throws.

The Reddies will next travel to Russellville on Saturday to face Arkansas Tech with tipoff at Tucker Coliseum set for 6 p.m.