Box Score

Henderson State overcame a nine point halftime deficit to beat Southern Arkansas 73-60 Saturday at the Great American Conference Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla.

The Reddies will advance to play in the GAC Championship on Sunday against Harding with tip-off set for 1 p.m. The game will be live streamed on GACSportsNetwork.com. The winner will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament next week.

The Reddies advanced to their sixth conference tournament title game since joining Division II in 1993. Henderson State made all five appearances in a nine-year stretch between 1999 and 2007.

The Reddies won Gulf South Conference titles in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Prior to these two victories this week, the Reddies had not won in its previous two GAC Tournament appearances.

Henderson State, 14-16 on the year, trailed 35-26 at the half, but outscored the Muleriders 47 to 25 in the second half to advance to Sunday's title game.

Southern Arkansas built a 35-26 halftime lead with the help of 50 percent shooting from the field, while the Reddies hit on just 30 percent in the first 20 minutes.

The Reddies, however, went on an 18-6 run to begin the second half with Melvin Haynes giving Henderson the lead for good at the 10:27 mark with one of his three 3-point field goals to make the score 47-44.

Over the next seven minutes, the Reddies outscored SAU 14 to 3 as Ronald Lawson and Reggie Murphy dominated the inside game combining for 10 points and five rebounds during the run.

SAU would never threaten again as Henderson State made 15 of 16 free throws down the stretch to put the game away.

Four Reddies scored in double figures led by Haynes and Murphy both having 14 points. Taylor Smith totaled 13 points while Lawson scored 12 points.

The Reddies dominated the glass as they outrebounded the Muleriders by a 44 to 27 margin. Smith led the way with eight rebounds, with Murphy and Bryan Umoru having seven each.

For the Muleriders, Tyrell Taylor led the way with 13 points and 10 assists. Jeffrey Walker matched Taylor for team-high scoring honors.

The Reddies shot just 37 percent from the field, making 19-of-51 shots from the floor. SAU, 12-16 on the year, hit on 21-of-52 attempts for 40 percent.

The Reddies and Bisons split during the regular season – each winning on their home floor. All GAC Basketball Championship contests are streamed at GACSportsNetwork.com.