ALVA, OKLA- Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers returned home for a mid-week non conference game Tuesday afternoon with a 89-78 victory over the Aggies. The Rangers used a big run in the second half to open a 60-48 lead as the Rangers would not let go.
The win improves Northwestern to 7-2 on the season as Oklahoma Panhandle falls to 6-5 on the year.
"We are always going to celebrate a win in our program, but we have plenty of room to improve. I thought our defense was a step slow tonight, and I give OPSU a lot of credit for their aggressive play. We have to do a better job with our on ball defense if we are going to continue to find success" stated head coach Vinay Patel following the Tuesday win.
Northwestern was led by Larry White scoring 34 points as one of four Northwestern players in double figures. He was followed by Malik Parsons with 15, Brian Free with 13 and the last one Bubba Furlong at 12. White led the team with nine rebounds with Furlong following at seven. Free led the Rangers with six assists as White had five. Furlong led the team on the defensive side of the ball with four blocks on the afternoon out of a team total of 10. Eric Hancik and White each had two steals.
The two teams started slow on the offensive side of the ball as each missed their first two shots before Parsons opened the scoring with a layup to give the Rangers the opening points before completing the three point play at the line. Northwestern opened the first four minutes with a 9-4 advantage forcing three turnovers. Parsons led the team with five points on the run.
Northwestern took their first double digit lead of the game following a Free three pointer pushing the Rangers out in front 14-4 over the Aggies. Overall in the pursuing four minutes of the next media stretch the Rangers and Aggies traded point for point holding a 9-9 advantage over the next run of play. The Red-and-Black held their five point advantage at 18-13.
Oklahoma Panhandle State would push a 15-7 run over the next eleven minutes of the game to climb back and tie the game at 25-25 with six minutes to play in the opening half. The Aggies would shoot four of six from the floor and hit six foul shots to help even the score in that duration. Panhandle would take their first lead at 28-27 and even stretch it at 38-34 with 2:24 to play before the Rangers powered back in front using a 7-0 run to take a 41-38 lead back right before halftime. Ravel Moody would hit the only in that duration helping Northwestern power back.
A last second shot for the Aggies would bring them back within one before the break as at halftime the Rangers led 41-40.
"It was great to see us continue to share the ball. Team basketball is a huge emphasis for us, and I was glad to see us have 25 assists on the day. We had several guys step up and make big plays when we needed them today. There is no question our defense will have to perform better on Saturday as Southeastern Oklahoma State travels to town" mentioned coach Patel.
The opening minute would run scoreless between the two teams as White would end the scoring drought with a layup assisted by Parsons to take a 43-40 lead. The Aggies would come back in the game evening the score at 45-45 with 17 minutes left in the game and back at 48-48.
This is where Northwestern would use their biggest run of the game to take full control following a 14-0 run over a four minute stretch to give Northwestern the double digit lead at 62-48 following six points from White and and six from Furlong on the run. The Rangers would shoot seven of ten from the field on the run. Northwestern's defense forced them to shoot 0-8 from the field while forcing two turnovers. The Red-and-Black would hold a 10 point advantage with 11 minutes to go in the game at 62-52. Panhandle would get as close as seven following a 7-0 run trying to answer the Rangers 14-0 run as with 10 minutes to play Northwestern held a 62-55 advantage.
Northwestern would push their lead back to 11 following a Hancik layup ending a two-minute scoring drought between both teams as the Rangers took a 70-59 lead with 7:27 remaining in the game. The Red-and-Black would continue to hold that lead following a put back dunk from White to go back up 12 at 79-67 with 3:15 remaining.
The offensive fire power would continue to push strong as the Rangers closed the game out with 10 more points in the final three minutes of the game to hold on for a 89-78 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State.
The Rangers close out non-conference play with a 5-1 record in non-conference play as the remaining games will all be Great American Conference games.
Northwestern will be back in action in Percefull Fieldhouse on December 18th against Southeastern Oklahoma State for the final game before break as the two teams battle for a spot atop the conference in the early going of GAC play.
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