ALVA, Okla. - After picking up four wins in the past 11 days, the Northwestern Oklahoma State men's basketball team finds themselves just a few games back of first place in the Great American Conference standings heading into the final two games of the first half of the conference schedule.

With just two teams remaining in conference that the Rangers haven't played yet this season, head coach Shawn Dirden's team will continue to take it one game at a time and grind out victories using a combination of efficient shooting and tenacious defense. Northwestern will enter the weekend series ranked fourth in field goal percentage (47.8 percent) and second in three-point percentage (39  percent) in the conference while giving up an average of just 69.4 points per contest.

The squad has used a committee approach to their offensive philosophy with a different player leading the team in scoring in each of the past five games. Seniors Brandon Green and Greg Minor Jr. have stepped up in recent contests, as Green netted a team-high 15 points on the road against Southwestern in the team's narrow 84-82 victory while Minor Jr. has made 7-of-10 three-point shots in the past four games.

Green and Minor Jr. have continued to maintain their defensive pressure as well during a stretch of five games in nine days that can be taxing on any team.

However, the Rangers deep bench full of athletic guards has allowed the Rangers to maintain their defensive intensity even during the busy stretch. Whether it's been Minor Jr., Green, A.J. Jones, Cody Halvorson, or A'keem Oglesby, any of coach Dirden's options have shown to be up to the challenge each and every game.
As the Rangers look ahead, their ability to close out contests will be tested like never before as the target on their back as a favorite to take the regular season GAC championship continues to grow. A 20-5 lead against Southwestern was squandered in the second half and led to a close 84-82 victory for the Black-and-Red.

A continued focus on finishing games out comfortably will be key as the long season progresses and the inevitable nerves that any successful team faces will continue to set in.  Many challenges lay ahead for the Rangers, but a solid game plan and the depth and talent to execute it have proven to be available so far this season.

The Rangers will wrap up the first half of the conference schedule with a weekend home series against Southeastern Oklahoma State and East Central. Southeastern has been on a tear as of late, winners of four straight including an undefeated 3-0 record on the road in conference play. Senior Markell Henderson has averaged 22.6 points per game in the past five games while sophomore Kevin Buckingham has continued to provide consistent scoring for the Savage Storm, averaging 13.1 points per game. The Savage Storm rank fifth in the conference in scoring defense (74.0 ppg) and are holding opponents to a 44 percent shooting number from the field. Southeastern enters the contest near the top of the Great American Conference and has joined Northwestern as one of the league's early surprises so far this season.

Northwestern will then shift their focus towards East Central for a Saturday afternoon match-up. The Tigers haven't had any trouble replacing the conference's all-time leading scorer in Braxton Reeves, as six players are averaging double digit points so far this season. Transfer Da'Rion King has been a physical presence so far this year for East Central, leading the conference with 8.8 rebounds per game while also averaging 13.3 points per game. As is always the case, the Tigers boast a strong three-point shooting presence across the board, ranking third in the league with a team three-point percentage of 39 percent on the season. East Central ranks in the upper half of nearly every team category across the board and will continue to be a tough challenge for any opposing teams.

Southeastern currently sits third in the conference, while East Central is tied with the Rangers at 7-2 for second place in the league, setting up two crucial showdowns set for 7:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. tip-offs on Thursday and Saturday.