SEARCY – A late run in the first half gave Harding a double-digit lead, and the Bisons pulled away in the second half to defeat Christian Brothers 79-57 in non-conference men's basketball action Tuesday at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

The victory was Harding's fourth straight and moved the Bisons to 4-1. Christian Brothers played without its leading scorer Adam Dieball, who missed the game with a foot injury, and fell to 2-2.

Harding closed the first half on a 12-0 run and the Bisons led 39-25 at halftime. During the run, Austin Mankin hit a 3-pointer and Will Francis made four free throws, all coming after a pair of technical fouls called on Christian Brothers coach Mike Nienaber, the second coming with seven seconds left in the half.

Stefan Andelkovic made four early 3-pointers and had 15 of his team-high 23 points in the first half. Harding shot 62 percent from the field and 5-of-11 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes.

Christian Brothers made only 39 percent of its shots in the first half but stayed in the game thanks to guard Jeff Larkin, who had 12 of the Bucs' 25 points. Larkin led Christian Brothers with 18 points.

Christian Brothers struggled from the field in the second half, missing 13 of 14 3-point attempts.

Tim Wagner scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half. Andelkovic finished with 23 points, a season high.

Francis scored 12 points and led Harding with four assists. Francis became the 27th Bison with more than 1,100 points in his career.

Harding returns to action Thursday, taking on Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma, at 7:30 p.m.