ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State out-scored Harding by 21 points in the second half to erase a double-digit halftime deficit and defeat the Bisons 88-79 on Saturday at the Duke Wells Center.

Raekwon Rogers played perhaps his best game of the season for the Reddies (17-7, 12-6) and finished with a career-high 27 points — 21 of which came in the second half — in just 19 total minutes of action. The junior from Little Rock led five players in double figures for HSU and was a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line.

It was a disastrous opening half for Henderson at home. The Reddies shot just 21.6% from the floor — their worst shooting half of the season — and watched the Bisons hit 10 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes of play to take a 43-31 advantage into the break.

Harding's lead grew to as many as 14 points with 16:28 remaining in the game. Down 51-37, HSU used seven-straight points from Rogers to fuel a 12-3 spurt which trimmed the deficit to 54-49, but the Bisons responded with three-straight 3-pointers to regain a 63-52 lead with 10:38 left.

Although the Reddies' first comeback attempt was stymied, there was no stopping their second rally. Facing a double digit deficit once again, Henderson went to work and got eight more points from Rogers, along with a big 3-pointer from Quawn Marshall, to storm back and tie the game 66-66 with 7:55 to go.

The run did not end there, however, as another 3-pointer from Rel Johnson, as well as baskets from Mike Fofana and Chris Owens, capped a 21-5 stretch for the Reddies which gave them their largest lead of the game, 73-68, at the 5:03 mark. HSU's defense was phenomenal during the big run and forced Harding into four turnovers in nine possessions.

The Bisons tried to regroup and twice cut the lead down to just three points, but another clutch 3-pointer from Johnson and a stick-back layup from Owens on a missed three extended the advantage out to double figures for the Reddies with less than two minutes to play. That cushion proved to be insurmountable in the final moments, as Henderson held on for the comeback victory.

HSU shot 58.6% from the floor in the second half on Saturday after hitting on just 8-of-37 looks in the first 20 minutes. Harding hit 17 3-pointers in the game — the most of any Reddies' opponent this year — but did not make one in the final nine minutes. Henderson out-scored the Bisons 26-15 on points off turnovers and 44-11 in bench points.

The Reddies return to action next Thursday, Feb. 20, when they host Southwestern Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. in the Duke Wells Center.