COVERAGE LINKS | GAME NOTES

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - After improving to 3-2 in GAC play with an 86-72 victory over Southern Nazarene Thursday, Henderson State will battle another 3-2 team in the Oklahoma Baptist Bison Saturday at 3 p.m.

REDDIES REPORT (4-6, 3-2 GAC)
A slow start to Thursday's action against the Crimson Storm was met with an electrifying final 20 minutes as Henderson turned a one-point lead at the break into a 14-point victory. Henderson State shot 66.7 percent (21-31) in the final frame, with seven of those 10 misses coming behind the arc as the Reddies missed just three shots from within the perimeter.

Clarence King was exceptional on both ends of the floor, tallying an HSU career-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting (77.0%) plus five free-throws and seven steals - the most steals in a single game for an HSU player in the GAC era. King now leads the Reddies with 13.9 points per game and is shooting 52.3 percent and 50.0 percent from the field and long range, respectively.

After getting out-rebounded in the opening half against SNU 26-10, including allowing 14 offensive rebounds, HSU won the rebounding battle across the final 20 minutes, 19-11, while only relinquishing three more offensive boards to the Crimson Storm. The red-and-gray will need to carry over the strong rebounding effort as Oklahoma Baptist leads the league in combined team rebounds (41.9) and is second in rebounding margin (+7.1). Henderson, meanwhile, is eighth in rebounding margin (-2.7).

In the last 15 meetings between the Reddies and the Bison, 11 of them have been decided by single digits, including six two-possession games. Last season in Arkadelphia, Henderson missed two of three free-throws as time expired to give OKBU the one-point victory. Henderson has not defeated Oklahoma Baptist inside the Duke Wells Center since the 2019-20 season. That same year, HSU would finish wind up beating the Bison in the GAC Tournament Championship Game.    

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA BAPTIST (6-5, 3-2 GAC)
Oklahoma Baptist comes into Saturday's contest with a win already under its belt during this Arkadelphia road trip after beating Ouachita Baptist, 87-72. Similar to Henderson State, the Bison followed a lackadaisical first-half performance with a huge second half to claim the victory. After the Tigers shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) in the first 20 minutes, OKBU held OUA to just 29.4 percent (10-of-34) shooting in the latter period.

In addition to the strong defensive showing, Oklahoma Baptist got a pair of 20-point performances from Terry Coner Jr. (21) and Nathan Wilson (20). Coner is leading the team with 17.8 points per game and is shooting 52.2 percent (24-of-46) from three. All five starters scored in double figures as Thursday marked the green-and-gold's fourth straight game to score at least 83 points.

While being second in the GAC in scoring offense (79.6 ppg), Oklahoma Baptist is ninth in scoring defense (74.5 ppg). Prior to their win over Ouachita, OKBU gave up 84 and 92 points to East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma State, respectively, both of which came in losses. The Bison have not won a game this season when giving up at least 80 points, which Henderson has achieved in back-to-back games.