ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University men's basketball were overcome late Thursday evening as the Rangers fell to Ouachita Baptist at home in a Great American Conference showdown, 67-58.
In what was a low scoring affair early in the game, the Rangers used a 9-2 run to take an 18-9 lead at the 11:22 mark of the first half. A pair of freshman connected with each other to start the run with Andrew Clopton finding Cole Jones for three.
Ouachita added a basket before Eric Andres, Jack Peck and Bryshon Bryant picked up six straight points in the paint, two possessions coming off steals, to give the Rangers their nine-point advantage. Less than a minute later, the Tigers got back to within four points after a three-point basket, but Peck answered with a three of his own to make it 21-14.
Peck finished the game with a game high 18 points.
The Tigers eventually tied the game up with four minutes remaining in the first, but Andres pulled down an offensive rebound and put in a put back to get the Rangers back on the high side. Following another Ouachita bucket to tie the game yet again, Clopton answered from long range for another lead change.
The game went into halftime with the Rangers lead the visiting Tigers 32-31.
In the first nine minutes of the second half, the Tigers would tie the game with the Rangers nine times, only to be answered by Northwestern with a lead after each equalizer. It wasn't until Bryant put in a layup that as answered with a three on the other end did Ouachita take the lead with 10:33 to go.
An 8-0 run by the Tigers seems to take the wind out of the Rangers, but with 8:47 to go, Peck came away with a steal and found Bryant in the open court who finished with a slam provide a quick spark. A.J. Jones followed a missed shot on the Ouachita end with a pull up jumper on the right elbow to make it 50-49 Tigers with 7:39 to go.
Unfortunately, the Rangers weren't able to get anything going in the remaining minutes of the game, never overtaking the Tigers from that point.
Outside of Peck's 18 points, the Rangers scoring was fairly balanced with A.J. Jones and Eric Andres Jr. putting eight points each on the board and Bryant added seven. Clopton and David Thornton both finished with five points, Bryce Cashman tacked on four points and Cole Jones put in the first half three.
Northwestern is now 6-19 this season and 4-15 against the Great American Conference. The Rangers will play their final home game of the season inside Percefull Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. when they host Henderson State.
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