Box Score

It was a classic championship game as it took double-overtime for Harding to beat Henderson State 92-86, Sunday at the Great American Conference Tournament Championship in Bartlesville, Okla.

Harding used a GAC record 16 three-point field goals to beat the Reddies. The biggest of 3-pointers came at the beginning of the second overtime by Blake McNair and Weston Jameson.

The Reddies were forced to play catch-up again and made just 1-of-6 three-point field goals in the final five minutes.

"I am very proud of how hard our team played today," said HSU Coach Doug Nichols. "We were down most of the second-half, but the guys fought back several times."

Harding, 15-14 on the year, opened the game hitting six 3-point field goals to take an 18-11 lead at the 14:30 mark.

Four different Bisons hit trifectas during the run with Jameson hitting his first three field goal attempts to lead Harding.

The Bisons went on to build a 29-23 lead with 5:46 left in the half as McNair hit Harding's seventh 3-point field goal of the game while Antoine Burrell converted the conventional trifecta.

Reddie rookie Brian Umoru helped begin a 17-8 run for Henderson. Umoru scored all seven of his first-half points within a three minute span, while Deoirvay Johnson added five points.

Henderson State took its first lead of the game at the 4:02 mark on an Aloine Mboup dunk, capping off a 13-3 spurt by the Reddies.

After hitting seven of its first nine shots from the field, Harding cooled off and made just four of its next 14 attempts to end the half shooting 48 percent.

The Bisons made eight 3-point field goals in the half, but made just 7-of-15 free throws.

The Reddies shot a solid 52 percent in the first 20 minutes making 15-of-29 field goals and were 8-of-12 from the foul line as Henderson went into the locker room with a 40-37 halftime lead.

Harding opened the second half going on a 10-0 run to take a 47-40 lead at the 15:30 mark, while the Reddies missed their first six shots.

Melvin Haynes ended the run as he scored Henderson's first points of the half with a 3-point field goal.

The Bisons pushed their lead to 52-43 at the 13:23 mark as Gibson hit Harding's 11^th long-range field goal of the game.

The Reddies fell behind by as many as 12 points in the half, but Haynes hit a pair of 3-points and a layup to begin Henderson's surge.

Henderson climbed all the way back to tie the score at 74-74 with 1:24 left as Taylor Smith hit a pair of free throws.

The Bisons had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Jacob Gibson's 22-footer was off target as the buzzer sounded.

In the first overtime period, Harding had a 81-78 lead with 36 seconds remaining, but Smith drove to score on a layup and was fouled in the process. The junior from Kensett, Ark. made the free throw to tie the score at 81-81 with 23 seconds left.

Again Harding had the final possession but was unable to score and the game went into the second overtime. The Bisons then outscored the Reddies 12-5 in the second extra-period to capture the title.

Aside the 3-point success by the Biosns, another factor in the game came at the foul line. Harding was sent to the foul line twice as many times as the Reddies. The Bisons attempted 37 free throws, making 25 for 68 percent. Henderson State only made 18 trips to the line, converting 13 times for 72 percent.

Haynes was one of five Reddies to score in double-figures. The senior from Akron, Ohio totaled 17 points while making four 3-point field goals.

Smith and Kevin Kozan totaled 15 points each, while Johnson scored 11 points and Ronald Lawson totaled 10.

McNair led the Bisons with 25 points while sinking 6-of-7 trifectas, while Jameson scored 21 points including 5-of-8 3-point field goals.

Haynes and Johnson were named to the GAC All-Tournament Team. Haynes averaged 12.7 points during the tournament including having 17 points in the championship game. Haynes sunk 9-of-22 three-point field goals and was 9-of-12 from the foul line.

Johnson averaged 11 points and 4.7 rebounds in the three games and shot 72 percent from the foul line.