Harding slimmed Henderson State 74-57 on Saturday at Rhodes-Reaves Field House, with Wesley Booker and Keyln McBride each scoring 21 points. The Bisons’ defense held the GAC’s top-scoring offense well below its usual pace, snagging a season-low 57 points for the Reddies and forcing them to shoot 40%. Booker added 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season, while McBride connected on four three-pointers and went 7-for-7 from the line.
Harding dominated on the boards, outrebounding Henderson State 40-25 and pulling down 16 offensive boards, which helped them attempt 53 shots to the Reddies’ 50. The Bisons led from the opening tip, going scoreless for the first four minutes but then building a 32-24 halftime advantage and extending the lead to as many as 19 in the final minutes.
Booker, a fifth-year senior, followed up a career-high 31 points earlier in the week with a steady all-around performance (21 points, 12 rebounds). McBride matched him with 21 points, contributing 4-of-8 from long range and flawless 7-of-7 shooting at the free-throw line.
Harding’s win keeps them at 8-2 overall and 4-0 in the conference, marking the program’s first 4-0 GAC start since the 2010-11 Gulf South Conference era. The victory also extends Harding’s home winning streak to 10, dating back to last season, and places them at the top of the league standings, tied with Southern Nazarene.
Upcoming: Harding travels to Ouachita Baptist on December 18 at 7:30 p.m. (JV/Radio coverage on KVHU 95.3). A history of the series against Ouachita Baptist can be found here: https://hardingsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/opponent-history/ouachita-baptist/6
Question to readers: Do you view Harding’s strong defensive clampdown against Henderson State as a sign of sustainable identity or a matchup-based performance? Share your take on how the Bisons can maintain this level against tougher offenses this season.
