[January 31, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Making a last second run, Southern Arkansas fell just short as Harding squeaked by with a 69-66 Gulf South Conference win Thursday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.

Trailing by their largest deficit of the game at 51-39 with 6:05 remaining, the Muleriders made a gallant effort behind Cory Green who scored nine points in the midst of a 22-12 SAU run over the next five minutes to pull within 63-61 with 1:19 remaining. Southern Arkansas had to foul, sending Steven Barnett to the line whose two free throws made it a four-point game for the Bisons. HU returned the favor though, and Channin Harden scored his only two points of the night at the charity stripe with 45 ticks left. After another Mulerider foul, Trent Morgan sank two freebies with 14 seconds left making it 67-63, Harding. Scotty Lott then filled it from downtown, 67-66, with five seconds on the clock and then promptly fouled Matt Hall who made both free throws for a slim three-point Bison edge. Lott was immediately fouled bringing the ball up-court and after misfiring on the first free throw, intentionally missed the second, hoping for a long rebound for SAU. They didn’t get it, but Barnett traveled after corralling the board and the officials put a half second back on the clock giving Southern Arkansas one last chance, but the Muleriders couldn’t get a shot off.

SAU held a 15-9 advantage at 11:49 in the first half courtesy of Brandon Williams’ trey. But HU battled back to tie it at 26-26 on Kevin Brown’s lay-up and later went up 27-26 when Brown sank one of two free throws. Mori Turpin then hit two freebies for a 28-27 Southern Arkansas lead at the break.

Harding (11-8, 5-1 GSC) made its move right out of the dressing room though, scoring six unanswered and the Muleriders (10-9, 1-5 GSC) never completely recovered.

Although in a losing effort, Green still had a career night for SAU, posting a personal best of 26 points. The senior was 7 of 10 from the floor, including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc, and was perfect on all seven free throw attempts.

The Bisons hit 22 of 51 shots to finish at 43.1 percent on the night, while Southern Arkansas again struggled, getting just 21 of 57 (36.8). HU was 5 of 11 (45.5) on threes and 20 of 27 (74.1) at the stripe, while the Muleriders were 10 of 24 (41.7) and 14 of 17 (82.4).

SAU forced 19 Harding turnovers, but only got 12 points off them. They committed 12 themselves, while the Bisons won on the boards, 44-28.

Harding all-conference forward Matt Hall was held to only 13 points, about nine below his average. He came in as the GSC’s leading scorer and was 10th in the nation. Brown topped the Bisons with 15 points, and Jesse Bynum and Morgan added 11 and 10, respectively. Brown finished with a game-high eight rebounds.

Other than Green, Williams scored 11 points for Southern Arkansas, but had an off night in hitting only 3 of 10 on his patented three-pointers. Cameron Butler had seven rebounds.

The Muleriders have now skidded to five losses in their last six games, including dropping four straight. They get a chance to turn that around Saturday when they travel to rival Arkansas-Monticello. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

Photo by Aaron Morris