The Harding University Bisons won against Southeastern Oklahoma State University 85-58 on Saturday, Mar. 2. This was not your typical Saturday afternoon double header. CBS was in the Rhodes Field House to tape for “The Best Road Trip Destination in College Basketball” portion of the GEICO “Best of College Basketball” show that is set to air on April 6 at 1 p.m. ET.
Harding won the title “Best Road Trip in College Basketball” because of the students, faculty and anyone with connections to the Bisons that went online and voted. Harding was up against schools like Indiana University and University of Arizona.
“It is just a testament to what Harding does best, and that is relationships,” Bison head coach Jeff Morgan said. “Our alumni, our students, our faculty and people who did not even really have a connection with Harding were on board just because they have relationships somehow with somebody. It was awesome.”
According to senior guard Bradley Spencer, winning “The Best Road Trip in College Basketball” explained itself at the game Saturday.
“We couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Spencer said. “Every night we come in and just try to play our hearts out. We appreciate all the fans. We love them all. They keep us fired up throughout the whole game. We need every last one of them.”
Not only was Saturday’s game honoring Harding for winning “The Best Road Trip in College Basketball”, but it was also Senior Day. The Bisons have four seniors this season, Spencer, Adam Sterrenberg, Zach Roddenberry and Matt Walters. These players were honored after the game alongside their families for the hard work and passion they put into the Harding program while they were here.
Roddenberry entered Saturday’s game with only a few points to go until he would reach 1,000 points. A few minutes into the second half, Roddenberry stepped to the line for two free throws. After he made his second free throw the crowd went wild because with that point he had reached his 1,000th point.
“I didn’t know how close I was,” Roddenberry said. “The crowd went crazy so I knew it was then. I really can’t put it into words. It has been a long journey, but it has been awesome.”
With Harding’s victory on Saturday, they clinched the top spot in GAC regular season play. The Bisons will be ranked No. 1 in the Great American Conference tournament next weekend.
“Well we started off this year and said we wanted to win a conference championship,” Roddenberry said. “I’m telling you without the fans it would be hard to do it. Everybody is just one big family.”
Harding will play in Bartlesville, Okla. on Friday, Mar. 8 when they will face Southern Arkansas State University in the first round of games. With a few wins the Bisons will keep their spot in the regional rankings that will lead them to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
