ALVA, Okla.-  The Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball team is set to tip-off again Thursday around 7:30 in the evening following the Lady Rangers game. The Rangers will welcome the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist into Percefull Fieldhouse. Northwestern is coming off a loss to Southeastern over the past weekend. 

These two teams between the Rangers and the Bison come in with similar statistical numbers. The Bison come into the game with an average of 73 points per game. The 73 points are 8th in the GAC while the Rangers enter the day with 72.5 per game. Northwestern continues to rebound the basketball well with a GAC high with 44 rebounds per game. 

Head Coach Vinay Patel, is currently in his second season with the Ranger program has a 12-22 record with the team and a 100-78 record collegiately. 

Northwestern comes into the game 2-4 on the season, 0-4 in Great American Conference play as they attempt to end the four-game losing streak. 

The Red-and Black has three players averaging double figures in points per game. Parrish Hewitt leads the team with 14.2 points per game while shooting 40% from the field and a conference-best 93.8% from the foul line. Deon Barrett is second with 11.7 points per game while adding a team-high 34 assists. Bubba Furlong is the third Northwestern member averaging a double-double with 10.5 points per game and 11.3 rebounds. The 11.3 rebounds are a conference-best and the 10th best in Division II basketball. Furlong averages 2.5 blocks per game is a league-high and fourth in all of Division II play. 

Oklahoma Baptist:

The Bison enter Thursday with a 6-3 record and 6-2 in conference play. That is good for first in the Western side of the GAC division. OBU is on a five-game win streak, with their most recent win coming at East Central 63-58.  

Oklahoma Baptist, led by head coach Jason Eaker has been with the program since April of 2018. Eaker has a record of 44-26 with university and his all-time collegiate head coach record. 

Jarius Hicklen is the first of four double-digit scorers for the Bison at 15.2 points per game. Harrison Stoddart averages 14.8 points per game is good for 14th in the GAC. Brantly Thompson averages 14.4 points, and Jaquan Simms averages 10.2 a game. Nigel Wilcox is the teams leading rebounder with 8.3 per game, followed by Stoddart with 6.4. Thompson leads the team in assists with 37 on the season, followed by Jaquan Simms and Jordan Thompson with 29 each. 

History:

Thursday will be the first meeting between the two teams after the first one was postponed previously on January 21st. Rangers look to end their three-game losing streak against the Bison. In the last six games, the teams are 3-3. Since joining the Great American Conference, the Rangers are 9-11 with an average of 72.4 points per game. Overall Northwestern trails the all-time series 17-31 against the Bison. 

Team Comparisons: