ALVA, Okla. – Treyvon Andres' fourth double-double of the season helped the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers to a 16-point victory over rival Southwestern Oklahoma State Thursday night inside Percefull Fieldhouse.
With the 77-61 victory over the Bulldogs, the Rangers won their ninth straight home game against the visitors from Weatherford, dating back to the 1996 season.
The win also snapped a four-game skid by the Northwestern men, improving their record to 4-11 overall and 2-7 in the conference. The Rangers will look to continue the trend Saturday afternoon on the road at Oklahoma Baptist, victims of the other GAC victory by the Rangers.
Northwestern's defense played havoc on the Bulldogs all game. When the clock ran out at the end of the game, Southwestern was look at their lowest scoring output of the season. The GAC leading scorer, Tre Evans, was held just to 3-of-13 shooting for a total of 13 points.
Andres led the way for the Rangers with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Jack Peck hit three three-pointers for a total of 13 points and Andrew Clopton finished in double-figures for the third time in as many games with 11 points. Of the 12 Rangers who played in the game, 11 scored points.
A.J. Jones was within reach of a triple-double after dishing out 10 assists in the game, to go along with seven points and eight rebounds. It was the second time this season he double digit assists in a game.
Both teams started the game slow with a total of just nine points scored in the first five minutes of action. At the 14:50 mark and the Bulldogs leading after a Nick Shoemaker three, Peck answered on the Ranger end of the floor with a three as well to give the Rangers the lead back.
The Bulldogs regained the lead briefly, but a put back by Andres with 13:19 to go in the first half gave the Rangers the advantage yet again. Southwestern had one final taste of the lead midway through the first half before a Clopton jumper gave the Rangers the lead the rest of the way through at the 9:13 mark.
Prior to Clopton's basket, Bryce Cashman had converted a shot at the charity stripe to tie the game at 14. That started a 14-0 run to open up an 11-point lead over the next three minutes. The Bulldogs cut the lead to six with six remaining, but Cole Jones drained a three and Andres scored five straight to swing the momentum back in the Rangers favor.
Early in the second half the Bulldogs had cut the deficit to single digits. But with 16:27 to go in the game, A.J. Jones found Peck in the corner for yet another three-pointer to make it a 10-point game. Northwestern would lead by 10 or more points in the final 16 minutes of the game.
The Rangers had its biggest lead late in the game when Keion Bateast went all but unguarded down the lane for a strong layup to give Northwestern a 19-point advantage.
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