Henderson State hopes to inch closer to securing a Great American Conference Tournament spot as the Reddies travel to Searcy to face Harding on Thursday with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. at the Rhodes Fieldhouse.          

With four games remaining, the Reddies are in a three-way tie for sixth-place in the league standings with the top eight seeds advancing to the tournament in Bartlesville, Okla. in March.           
           
Henderson enters the contest with a 14-10 record overall and a 9-9 league record following Monday's 86-82 victory over Ouachita Baptist. 

Kaylon Tappin, who was held scoreless in the first game against OBU, led the Reddies to victory with 27 points including 14-of-14 shooting from the foul line. The junior from Little Rock averages 15.2 points this season
 
Ben Marello has scored in double-figures in the last nine games including 15 points in the first meeting against Harding. The sophomore from Port Orange, Fla. is averaging 15.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in the last nine games. For the season Marello is scoring 11.4 points per game.
 
Chris Hawkins is second in scoring for Henderson averaging 12.2 points per game after scoring 16 points against OBU of 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from the line. Hawkins is first in the league in field goal percentage at 61.4 percent shooting. Hawkins totaled 10 points in the first game against Harding.
           
Harding enters Thursday's contest having lost four straight including a 78-59 loss to Arkansas Tech on Monday.
 
In the game against the Wonder Boys, the Bisons converted on just 20-of-53 shots from the field with 12 of those field goals coming from the 3-point line.       
 
As a team, Harding averages 76.2 points per game while allowing 72.4 points per contest. The Bisons average 10.2 field goals from beyond the arc having made 224-of-588 attempts for 38.1 percent shooting from the perimeter.
 
Tim Wagner leads the Bisons in scoring averaging 18.0 points per game which ranks third in the GAC. The junior from Galesville, Wisc. has converted on 34 percent from the 3-point line making 48-of-142 attempts. Wagner scored a season-high 31 points in the first game against the Reddies which included 8-for-12 from the field and 11-of-12 from the foul line.
 
Will Francis is one of the most decorated players in the GAC having earned All-GAC honors twice including Freshman of the Year in 2014. Francis averages 14.2 points per game and is one of the best perimeter shooters in the nation.
 
The senior from Searcy ranks second in the GAC in 3-point field goals made with 67 trifectas and is shooting a league-best 53 percent from long range which also ranks second nationally.
 
Earlier against the Reddies, Francis scored 11 points and grabbed 6 boards.
 
Henderson leads the all-time series with a 73-46 advantage. The Bisons have won the last six meetings with Henderson's last win being a 91-88 overtime victory on Feb. 17, 2014.
 
The Reddies will be attempting to end a three game losing streak in games played in the Rhodes Fieldhouse. The Bisons have won eight of the last nine on their home court.
Harding has a 9-3 series lead since the two teams became part of the GAC.
 
Thursday's double-header will be carried on 106.9 FM KYXK Arkadelphia/Gurdon with Hunter Lively and David Salley calling the action. Grady Bean will join the broadcast for the men's game.
 
The Domino's pregame show will air 5:15 p.m. with the women's game set for 5:30 p.m.

Live stats, audio and video streaming will also be available via the HSU Athletics website at www.hsusports.com.