BOX SCORE || BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Tournament MVP Weston Jameson scored 20 points and played all 50 minutes as Harding completed an improbable run through the Great American Conference Men's Basketball Championship with a 93-86 double-overtime against Henderson State on Sunday from Bruin Fieldhouse.
Jameson hit 5-of-7 3-pointers, including many from closer to 30 feet than from the 3-point line. He made 14-of-21 3-point tries during the four-day tournament. He added seven assists and seven rebounds.
Blake McNair bettered Jameson's shooting performance as he connected on 6-of-7 3-point tries in scoring a game-high 25 points. Hayden Johnson joined Jameson and McNair on the All-Tournament Team. He contributed 16 points and eight rebounds as the Bisons (15-14) won their first GAC Tournament title.
The Bisons opened the game by hitting their first six 3-pointers of the game and built a 26-17 lead. Henderson State, in its first conference tournament title game since 2007, responded with a 13-3 run to take its first lead of the half and went into the locker room up 40-37.
Harding again started quickly in the second half as they seized a 59-47 lead midway though the period. Melvin Haynes sparked the comeback as he scored 11 points during a 17-8 run. They finally drew even on free throws by Taylor Smith with 1:24 left. Jacob Gibson’s 3-point try at the buzzer for Harding missed and sent the game to overtime.
After an opening bucket by HSU’s Kevin Kozan, Harding scored five straight to take a 79-76 lead. They maintained an advantage throughout overtime until Smith again tied the game with a 3-point play with 22 seconds left. Given a second chance to win at the end, Jameson missed a jumper and Johnson’s tip in came after the horn sounded, thus extending the title clash an additional five minutes.
The Bisons finally grabbed control of the game after McNair and Jameson hit 3-pointers to start the second overtime. A breakaway lay-up by Will Francis locked up the Bisons victory.
Haynes led Henderson State with 17 points. Deoirvay Johnson added 11 to join Haynes on the All-Tournament squad. The duo helped the Reddies outscored the limited Bison reserves 40-7.
Harding earned the first-ever automatic bid awarded by the GAC and will learn its region opponent on Sunday during the NCAA.com selection show. It airs at 9:30 and can viewed on
NCAA.com.
2014 GAC Men’s Basketball Championships All-Tournament Team
Weston Jameson, G, Harding (Most Valuable Player)
Hayden Johnson, F, Harding
Blake McNair, G, Harding
Melvin Haynes, G, Henderson State
Deoirvay Johnson, G Henderson State
Henry Pwono, F, East Central
Bobby Hatchett, G, Arkansas Tech
Jeffrey Walker, G/F, Southern Arkansas