COVERAGE LINKS | GAME NOTES
 
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State travels to Searcy, Arkansas, Thursday, Dec. 14 to take on the Harding Bisons in the final conference game of 2023. Tip-off from Rhodes-Reaves Field House is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
REDDIES REPORT (2-4, 1-2 GAC)
Henderson State comes into the Harding contest off its second conference loss of the season after falling to Arkansas Tech, 68-65. Both of HSU's GAC losses have come by a total of four points. In each of those losses, the red-and-gray have lost the battle on the offensive glass as both SAU and ATU outscored them in second-chance points by a total 36-23. In Henderson's one conference win, it outscored Arkansas-Monticello in second-chance opportunities, 16-10.
 
Against Arkansas Tech, Tomislav Miholjcic matched his career-high with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting while going a career-best 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Miholjcic has now made 12 straight free-throws, having made all four of his attempts in HSU's game against UAM. The Belgrade, Serbia, native also added eight rebounds to his career day as he is now 26th in program history with 414 career rebounds. He needs 18 more to move into sole possession of 25th.
 
Henderson's offense has scored 462 points in six games this season, but 204 of that came in two outings, both of which were wins. In the Reddies' four losses, they are averaging 64.5 points per game, which would be 11th in the league. Meanwhile, the red-and-gray defense is tied for second in the conference after allowing 67.3 points per game. In each of the last four contests, HSU has not allowed more than 68 points.
 
The Reddies have had tremendous success over Harding under head coach Jimmy Elgas, winning 12 of the last 18 since Elgas took over the program, including a current seven-game win streak. The Bisons' last victory over HSU came in Searcy, Arkansas, during the 2020-21 season. In what will be the 136th all-time meeting, Henderson St. leads the overall series against Harding, 88-47.    
 
SCOUTING HARDING (5-4, 2-1 GAC)
In head coach Weston Jameson's first year at the helm of the Harding men's basketball program, the Bisons are off to their best start in league play through three games since the 2018-19 campaign (excluding the shortened 2020-21 conference-only season). Jameson led HU to wins over Ouachita Baptist and Southern Arkansas in the first two GAC meetings of the season before having dropped its first league game to Arkansas-Monticello on the road, 81-77. All three conference contests have been decided by eight points or fewer.
 
Harding is 2-0 at home in 2023, with wins over Baptist Bible and Southern Arkansas. Against the Muleriders, the Bisons had three plays score in double digits, led by sophomore guard Rylie Marshall with 17 points. The HU defense held SAU to just 51 points that day on 16.7 percent (2-of-12) three-point shooting and 38.8 percent (19-of-49) from the floor. Despite allowing the second most points in the league at 76.9 points per game, GAC opponents are averaging just 67.7 points against the Bisons this season.
 
Harding is one of two teams in the GAC to have five players averaging at least 10 points per game, led by sophomore guard Keyln McBride with 13.9 points per game. McBride, who has scored 10 or more in all but two contests this season, is one of three HU players shooting 45.0 percent or better from long range on a minimum of 20 attempts. As a team, the Bisons are shooting a league-best 42.0 percent (74-of-176) from beyond the arc.