FORT SMITH, Ark. – For the second consecutive yr, the highway to the Great American Conference championship ran by way of Searcy and ended with a celebration in Fort Smith.
Behind a masterful 26-point efficiency from Tournament MVP Keyln McBride, the Harding Bisons defeated Southern Nazarene 73-68 on Sunday afternoon at Northside Arena to assert their second straight GAC Tournament title. The victory marks the third GAC championship in program historical past (2014, 2025, 2026) and extends Harding’s profitable streak to 11 video games—a brand new college document.
McBride, who added seven assists to his game-high scoring output, was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Reggie Webster and Wesley Booker. Webster was scientific from deep, scoring 21 factors on 4-of-7 taking pictures from three-point vary, whereas Booker anchored the inside with an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double.
The Bisons (24-7) regarded poised to run away with the competition early. Harding shot a blistering 66.7% within the first half to take a 40-32 lead into the break. The momentum carried into the second interval, as a Booker dunk pushed the benefit to 50-32 with 16:55 remaining.
However, Southern Nazarene (23-9), assembly the Bisons within the last for the second straight yr, mounted a livid late rally. The Storm utilized a 33-12 benefit in bench factors to claw again inside three after an Aaron Potter triple with 48 seconds left.
With the school-record win streak and a trophy on the road, McBride took management. The junior guard drove the lane and knocked down a leaning jumper with 16 seconds remaining, extending the result in 73-68 and securing the Bisons’ computerized bid to the NCAA Central Region Tournament.
The Bisons dominated the paint 36-24 and restricted the Storm to only 44% taking pictures for the sport. Southern Nazarene was led by Tracy Godfrey Jr.’s 15 factors and 12 from Baron Bracey.
Harding will now await their seeding and opening-round opponent within the NCAA Division II Tournament. The choice present is scheduled for 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.