RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – For the second time in as many seasons, the Northwestern Oklahoma State University men were victorious at Harding as the Rangers earned a 64-57 victory over the Bisons Saturday afternoon in Searcy, Arkansas.
Northwestern's season came to a close with the win with plenty of young, returning talent playing well down the stretch for the Rangers. The Rangers finished the year at 8-20 overall and 6-16 in the Great American Conference.
Freshman Cole Jones had a big day with a career high 18 points, including six made three-point baskets. It's the most threes made in a game this season by a Ranger, and the most since Cody Halvorson dropped in six against East Central last season on Jan. 20, 2018.
Jones finished the season with 42 three-pointers made, the most by a freshman since Marshall Bell in 2009-10.
Bryshon Bryant was 7-for-11 from the floor with 15 points and sophomore standout Jack Peck knocked down a pair of threes and finished with 12 points. Bryant and Peck each pulled down six rebounds to lead Northwestern.
A.J. Jones finished the afternoon with eight assists. The junior wrapped up the season with 171 assists, one shy of tying the school record of 172, held by former teammate Brandon Green from the 2015-16 season.
After the Rangers got out to a quick lead in the first half, the home team battled back to regain the advantage at the 14:13 mark with a three. But A.J. Jones answered for Northwestern with a quick three to spark an 8-0 run.
Harding cut the difference to one with under five minutes to go in the half before Cole Jones knocked down back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to push the Rangers back up seven with 3:55 to go in the opening half.
Northwestern again stretch its lead to nine as the half came to a close when A.J. Jones found Elijah Parks for a layup to make it 30-21.
The two teams traded punches throughout the second half, with the Rangers lead never eclipsing the nine-point mark. That point came early on following a Bryant layup, then after Harding responded with a basket, Peck drained a floater in the paint.
Harding was gaining momentum and cut the lead to four before Peck hit a three at the 15:54 mark to stave off the attempt by the Bisons. The trend of the Rangers holding off a push by the Bisons continued as the minutes ticked away on the clock.
Harding's closest shot to get over the top came when they cut the Ranger lead to 54-52 with four minutes to go, but Cole Jones answered with another dagger, followed by a Bryant layup about a minute and a half later to all but seal the victory.
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