Harding posts comeback victory at Ouachita

Harding Athletics
Scott Goode, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

ARKADELPHIA – Redshirt freshman Romen Martin scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half and led Harding to an 86-84 victory over Ouachita Baptist Saturday in Great American Conference men’s basketball action at Vining Arena.

It was Harding’s fourth consecutive game decided by two points or fewer. The last time the Bisons (5-4, 3-1) played four two-point games was in 1986. Harding is part of a six-way tie for first place in the GAC standings.

Gabriel Divic made two free throws to tie the game at 76-76 with 4:28 left. Divic then gave Harding its first lead of the second half with a layup at the 4:06 mark.

After Ouachita’s Mahlon Martin hit a 3-pointer to give the Tigers the lead back, Adam Horn made a layup at 2:31 to give Harding an 80-79 lead. The Bisons led the rest of the way. Divic made another 3-pointer with 1:44 left, JV Long made two free throws down the stretch and Martin finished the scoring with another free throw.

Ouachita (4-4, 1-3) shot 56 percent in the first half and led 46-35 at halftime. OBU scored 26 points in the lane in the first half and led by as many as 14. The Tigers lost their third straight and dropped to 10th in the GAC.

Horn had a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Divic made three 3-pointers and added 15, and Long scored all 10 of his points in the second half.

Harding shot 65 percent (17 of 64) and outscored Ouachita 51-38 in the second half.

Mahlon Martin scored 15 points to lead Ouachita.

Harding’s next action is an exhibition game at Arkansas State in Jonesboro on Dec. 29.

FACTS AND FIGURES

  • Harding’s win was its first on the road this season and its first since a 90-89 win at Southwestern Oklahoma on Feb. 1, 2018.
  • Ouachita’s loss was its first at home this season.
  • Harding head coach Jeff Morgan is now 34-21 overall against Ouachita and 15-11 in Arkadelphia … it was Harding’s first win at OBU since 2011.
  • Harding shot 65 percent (13 of 20) from 3-point range … it was Harding’s second-best 3-point shooting effort in program history … Romen Martin was a perfect 5-of-5.

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