ALVA, Okla- The Rangers dropped the Thursday evening game against Southeastern 72-65. The Savage Storm used a late 9-0 run to put Northwestern away late in the second half.
Northwestern falls to 2-7 on the season, 0-7 in Great American Conference play following the Thursday loss. Southeastern improves to 6-7 on the year and in conference play.
The Red-and-Black were led by senior Parrish Hewitt, who finished with the game-high 20 points. Deon Barrett was the other Ranger in double figures finishing the evening with 10 points. Bubba Furlong led all players with 15 rebounds, while Barrett had the team-high with six assists.
The Savage Storm had all five starters score double figures Thursday. Southeastern was led by Vadim Clanet, hitting five three-pointers. Adam Dworsky led the game in assists with nine on the evening. Clanet led the Storm with six rebounds on the night.
The Thursday matchup opened with a plethora of scoring started by Southeastern. The Savage Storm opened the game on a 6-0 run with back to back threes. The run was countered by a Furlong three to open the scoring for the Rangers. Manek led southeastern with five quick points to help the Storm cap off a 7-0 run to open their first double-digit lead of the game at 13-3.
Led by Hewitt hitting back to back threes, the Rangers would climb back into this game and cut the deficit to three at 18-15. A Derrick White corner three at the halfway point through the first would cut the Ranger deficit to 23-22.
After a Southeastern foul shot, the Rangers would go on an 8-0 run sparked by Barrett to take their first lead of the game to 30-24 with six minutes left to play in the first half. The final six minutes would be no different. As the Savage Storm and the Rangers would start to trade baskets. After the Storm brought it within two points, the Rangers would answer. Furlong would make back to back field goals. Arturro Bingham sent the Rangers to the locker room following a buzzer-beater layup by the junior to give the Rangers a 41-36 halftime lead.
Hewitt led all scorers with 15 first-half points, followed by a strong seven-point, five rebounds, and four blocks in the first half for Furlong. Vadim Clanet led the Savage Storm with 11 points, followed by Kellen Manek with eight.
The second half opened with Manek and Bingham trading threes to hold the Rangers' five-point advantage. However, the Southeastern run would start from there. The score would be even at 46 following a Bobby Johnson three, closing out a 10-5 opening half run.
Neither team would gain separation as the offensive battle would continue to force the teams to trade basket after basket. At the halfway point, the Rangers led 56-55 following a Matej Drgon's hook shot. A Clanet three would put the Savage Storm back in front. Cole Jones would answer, making two of three foul shots to give the Rangers their last lead of the game with seven minutes to play at 59-58.
The visiting team would go on a 9-0 run to take a 67-59 lead, with Manek and Rj Weeks leading the charge on the run. A Hewitt three put the Rangers back within five heading into the final media timeout. Following the timeout, Southeastern would get four straight to open a nine-point lead. Dworsky would hit 1 of two foul shots to end the night to seal the win for the Savage Storm at 72-65.
The Red-and-Black will return to action Saturday afternoon in Ada, Oklahoma. The Rangers take on East Central at 4 PM, after the conclusion of the Lady Rangers game at 2 PM.
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