ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University men's basketball controlled the game throughout, but in the end, Ouachita Baptist was able to hit a basket in the final seconds to complete a late comeback for a 62-61 victory.
The Tigers went on an 11-2 run in the last three minutes of the game.
With 11 seconds to go, and the Tigers up one, Treyvon Andres looked like he would be the one to deliver a dagger with a tough layup on the left side of the lane to give the Rangers a lead. Unfortunately, the Tigers quickly got the ball up the court and Mahlon Martin delivered the final shot with a pull up jumper from the free-throw line.
Andres led the Rangers in scoring with 19 points, one shy of his season high in his season opening contest against Northeastern State. His brother, Eric Andres Jr., played a season high 31 minutes and had a team high eight rebounds.
The loss dropped Northwestern's record to 3-10 overall and 1-6 in conference play. The Rangers will have an opportunity get back on track Thursday night when they host Southwestern (3-11, 0-8) inside Percefull Fieldhouse. Tipoff against the Bulldogs is schedule to follow the women's game.
Despite the outcome, the Rangers came out on fire in the first half and set the tone for ballgame. Northwestern had its largest advantage of the first half as Treyvon Andres hit a three-point basket to make it 15-5 just five minutes into the game.
The Ranger men were firing from outside during the stretch with Andres' three finishing off three straight with the first two coming from Jack Peck and Cole Jones.
Later in the half, the Tigers clawed their way back into the game to make it a one-point difference before Jones drilled another long range shot to keep the Tigers from gaining an advantage. Jones finished the game 4-for-8 from outside the arc for 12 points. As a team, the Rangers had 11 made threes at game's end.
Northwestern had a six point lead at halftime, but the Tigers came out and tied the game at 30 less than two minutes into the second half. However, the freshman sharpshooter Jones answered again with a three, followed by an Andrew Clopton three and A.J. Jones layup for a Ranger 8-2 run.
Clopton finished in double figures with 12 points and Peck added 11 points.
The Rangers held off multiple Tiger chances to take the lead through much of the second half. While there were multiple ties, the Tigers were unable take the lead until the final 30 seconds of the game. Northwestern had the advantage for over 35 minutes of game play.
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