MBB GAME NOTES: VERSUS HARDING MARCH 1, 2025

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – With conference tournament seeding on the line the Reddies will travel to Searcy, Ark. to play the Bisons on their senior night.
 
The Reddies will roll into Searcy, Ark. with a lot to play for against the higher seeded Bisons. Sitting in fifth place in the conference the Reddies will need to handle business to stay a top five seed. A Reddies win would secure HSU a top five seed a loss and a SWOSU loss would keep HSU at the five seed in the conference tournament.
 
Against Arkansas Tech the Reddies had just two players score in double figures. The team's leading scorer, Nehikhare Igiehon scored 20 points as he continues to add top his stellar season. Igiehon has scored 15 or more points in six-straight games including a 27-point performance versus Southwestern.
 
Against Arkansas Tech at home on Senior Night Matthew Mayes recorded two steals, tying the all-time Henderson State single season steal record with 66. Mayes ranks fifth in the country in steals per game, first in the GAC in steals per game and ranks ninth in the conference in blocks per game. Mayes ranks first in the conference in stocks per game.
 
The Reddies have not seen the Bisons this calendar year, last playing on December 14, 2024. In that game at home the Reddies led at the half and were tied with 3:51 remaining in the game. HSU had four players score in double digits, Jameel Wesley II scored 11 points and played 19 minutes.
 
The Harding Bisons sit above the Reddies in the standings, an overall of 18-9 and 14-7 in conference play. The Bisons are led by two of the best scorers in the conference, Sam Smith and Keyln McBride. During conference play Smith is averaging 15.5 ppg and McBride is averaging 15.2 ppg.
 
In their last outing the Bisons traveled to Monticello to face the Boll Weevils. The Bisons handled business and handed Arkansas-Monticello their 20^th GAC loss of the season, winning by 23. The Bisons had four players score in double-digits and Josh Denton scored 20 points off the bench.
 
The Bisons rank first in the conference in offense, averaging 77.3 ppg during conference play, first in field goal percentage (47.6) and first in three-point percentage (40.2).
 
McBride, the team's leading scorer this season also leads the team in assists per game (4.7) and steal per game (1.9). McBride ranks second in the country in free throw percentage (93.02).
 
Harding ranks second in the country in free throw percentage at 80.55 percent.
 
Players to Watch:
 
Matthew Mayes had one of his best outings in weeks. Mayes scored 13 points and hauled in five rebounds. With a steal versus Harding Mayes would break the Henderson State single-season steal record. Against Harding Mayes scored 13 points, recorded four stocks and hauled in nine rebounds.
 
Nehikhare Igiehon has continued his All-GAC level season, averaging 16.6 ppg in conference. Igiehon has scored in double figures in 19 of 21 GAC games.
 
The Reddies tip off versus Harding on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the conclusion of the 2024-25 regular season.