Box Score MEMPHIS—The Christian Brothers University Bucs cut a 19-point Harding lead as close as six points in the final minutes, but they could not complete the comeback in a 66-57 loss Thursday night, dropping the Bucs into a tie with Harding for the fourth and final spot in next month's GSC Tournament.

The Bisons (12-11, 5-6 GSC West) never trailed, but after a nip-and-tuck first nine minutes, they began to expand the lead, using a 12-2 run to go up 29-18 on a Stephen Blake layup with 6:19 remaining in the half.  After the Bucs (15-9, 5-6) scored seven straight to cut the lead to 29-25, the Bisons went on a 15-0 run carrying over into the first minute of the second half, as two Kevin Brown free throws gave the Bisons a 44-25 lead.

The 19-point deficit was the biggest the Bucs have faced this season, and just like they did after trailing 39-20 one possession into the second half in a December loss at Nova Southeastern, the Bucs mounted a serious comeback bid.

The Bisons kept answering the Bucs at every turn until Michael Drake (Little Rock, Ark./Catholic HS) made a tough three-point play with 7:30 remaining to cut the lead to 60-46.  Scott Dennis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore HS) followed with a three-point play to trim the lead to 61-49 with 5:57 left, and another Dennis three-point play with 4:21 remaining cut the margin to 10.  Jimmy Palmer (Hernando, Miss./Hernando HS) followed with a fast-break three-pointer from the left corner with 3:44 remaining, cutting the lead to 62-55.  The Bucs could only score once more, however, a Palmer layup that cut the lead to 63-57 with 1:08 remaining, and their two three-pointers in the final minute both missed as Harding sank three free throws to ice the game.

Dennis led the Bucs with 16 points and 12 rebounds, his fifth straight double-double and his 12th overall.  Zack Warner (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton HS) had 14 points, 10 rebounds, and a season-high three blocks for his third double-double of the season.

Brown led Harding with 25 points, while Blake added 15.

The Bucs' three-point shooting continued to slump, as they finished the night at 21.7 percent (5-of-23), the sixth time in the last nine games they have been under 30 percent.  They shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) overall, while making 83.3 percent (10-of-12) of their free throws.  Harding shot 46.5 percent overall (20-of-43), including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range.  The Bisons were 76.9 percent (20-of-26) at the charity stripe.

The Bucs out-rebounded Harding 32-26, including a 12-5 edge in offensive rebounds, but they committed 13 turnovers to the Bisons' 11.

The Bucs return to the court Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. as they visit Henderson State.  They come home next Thursday, Feb. 25, to host Southern Arkansas.