Trent Morgan helps Bisons pull away late against Incarnate Word

The Bisons beat Incarnate word 81-74 after Morgan’s one-man run late in the game.  Trent finished with a career-high 22 points and added seven rebounds (and six turnovers) as the Bisons won in front of a meager home crowd of 452.  Harding’s Thanksgiving Break began after class on Friday, so I imagine the student attendance was next to none (dorm residents are not allowed to stick around over break).

Changing pace completely from the Champion Baptist game, the scoring line was almost completely dominated by HU’s guards, notably Morgan and Steven Barnett.  Although the Bisons lost the turnover battle in a major way, the starting guard tandem shot efficiently enough for Harding to make up that lost ground.  Sam Brown added 11 points, and Kirk Porter had 10 off the bench.  The Bisons shot 50% from the field and made over half of their three-point attempts (8-of-14).

I’m not sure what was going on with UIW’s interior defense in the game.  They lost the rebounding battle but managed to keep the Bison forwards completely in check.  Kevin Brown and, more mysteriously, Brian Howard, were virtually missing from the box score.  Brown committed four fouls and played only 9 minutes of the game, scoring three points and grabbing three boards.  Howard had the same number of fouls, but he lasted 32 minutes of apparently uneventful play.  He attempted five shots, made just one, and scored four points to go with five rebounds.  He had recorded a double-double in the two previous games.

The Bisons play at Alabama-Huntsville tomorrow (Monday) night in their first in-region game of the year.  I’m not sure if I will be able to attend this one, as I have for the past couple of years.  I’d like to keep my streak alive and see at least one game this year, but the game is on a work night and is a two-hour drive from home.  If I go, I’ll have a full report when I get back.