ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State men's basketball team will enter the 2018 calendar year in a three-way tie for second place in the Great American Conference after going 3-1 in the first conference games of the season.

Now the Rangers will look to use the preparation they experienced over the winter break to continue to keep themselves in contention for a regular-season conference championship. Head coach Shawn Dirden's team started the break off with a 90-73 victory over Randall University and will kick things off with home games against Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello this weekend.

A continuing focus on defensive pressure and the talents of multiple individuals on the offensive side have given the Rangers the means needed to rise as a force to be reckoned with within the conference. That defensive pressure has the Rangers ranked first in the conference allowing just 67.3 points per game while capitalizing on the offensive end as well, ranking fifth in the league with a team field goal percentage of 48 percent.

Junior Treyvon Andres has made his presence felt early and often in multiple facets of the game and has provided the squad with a big-body underneath the glass that is so vital towards success in the GAC. Andres has averaged 13.7 points per game while ranking second in the league with a 64 percent shooting percentage from the floor, placing him second in the category in the conference.

Senior Cody Halvorson has also returned to the floor for the Black-and-Red and has continually stretched opposing defenses, ranking second in the conference with an average of 3.1 made three-pointers a game. Halvorson and guard Brandon Green have formed a formidable duo in the back-court for coach Dirden, along with point guard A.J. Jones, who has averaged 3.4 assists a game.

Northwestern will take on Southern Arkansas Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. inside Percefull Fieldhosue before squaring off with defending league champions Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in what figures to provide Ranger fans a match-up of two legitimate contenders for a conference championship.