SEARCY – Harding had three post players score career highs, including senior Stefan Andelkovic with 29 points, as the Bisons defeated Arkansas Tech 92-85 in Great American Conference men's basketball action at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.
Harding has won four of the last five against Tech in Searcy and improved to 8-5 overall and 5-4 in the GAC. Tech had won six of its last seven entering Monday's game but fell to 9-4 overall and 5-4 in conference.
With 10:38 left, Tech led 58-57. Over the next 3½ minutes, Harding pounded the ball inside and outscored Tech 18-3 to take a 75-61 lead with 6:59 left. During the run, Harding got three consecutive layups from freshman J.P. Brandon, who scored a career-high 14 points, a 3-pointer from Will Francis, and back-to-back layups from Andelkovic.
Tech trimmed Harding's lead to six on three occasions down the stretch but got no closer.
Andelkovic was 10-of-16 from the field, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Redshirt freshman forward Gojko Djokovic was 7-of-8 from the field and scored a career-high 17 points.
Francis, one of the top 3-point shooters in Division II, connected on 4-of-5 and scored 18 points.
Harding and Arkansas Tech were tied 35-35 at halftime, but the Bisons outscored the Wonder Boys 57-50 in the second half. Harding shot 64 percent from the field in the second half and held Tech to only 39 percent.
Tech did much of its damage on the offensive glass. The top offensive rebounding team in the conference, the Wonder Boys had 19 offensive rebounds and scored 22 second-chance points.
Bennie Lufile led Tech with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Montrell Williams had 18 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
Harding is 6-1 at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House this season and has won 13 of its last 14 home games over the last two seasons. The Bisons are back at home Thursday when they host Southern Arkansas at 7:30 p.m.
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