ARKADELPHIA, Ark – Hot shooting, dominance in the paint and hustle points push the Reddies past the Bison at home and secures Henderson State a spot in the GAC Tournament next month.
Rondae Hill showed up and showed out versus the Oklahoma Baptist Bison. Hill scored 28 points on 11-19 shooting from the field including four threes. Hill's 28 points is the most in a conference game this season for the Reddies and the most for a Reddie freshman since Chris Parker's 26-point performance in the Battle of the Ravine game in 2018. Hill has had as dominant of a freshman season as anyone in the GAC, scoring double digits in 12 conference games and six in a row including tonight's game.
As a team the Reddies dominated the battle in the paint, scoring 44 points in paint and six more points than the Bison off second chance opportunities. The Bison entered the night as the conference's leading rebounding team, but the Reddies pushed them to a 43-43 tie on the glass.
In the open court HSU outscored OKBU 19-6 off 14 Bison turnovers leading to fast break buckets.
Matthew Mayes led all players with five stocks (steals+blocks) and added five rebounds alongside six assists.
Jamarion Brown posted six points, six rebounds and six assists in just a little over 25 minutes. Brown led all players with +18 +/-, in a one-point game, while committing zero turnovers.
Nehikhare Igiehon added a second double-double to his stellar 2024-25 campaign. Igiehon scored 20 points on 50 percent shooting from the field while adding a team high 11 rebounds. Igiehon's 20-point game is his fifth in the last nine games and his 17
th time scoring in double figures during conference play.
The win clinches the Reddies a spot in the GAC Tournament with the opportunity to rise in the standings with #20 Southern Nazarene on Sunday and Arkansas Tech and Harding next week.
Top Performers:
Rondae Hill: 28 pts., 11-19 FG, and +10 +/-.
Jamarion Brown 6 pts, 6 rbs., 6 ast., +18 +/-.
The Reddies are set for action on Sunday at 3 p.m. versus the #20 Crimson Storm, looking to avenge a loss in Bethany earlier this season.
