ALVA, Okla.- Northwestern Oklahoma State University Men's Basketball team falls Saturday afternoon to the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene 57-50. Southern Nazarene took advantage of a strong early start to the second half opening it on a 12-0 run to build a double-digit lead.
The Rangers fall to 2-6 on the season, 0-6 in conference play, while Southern Nazarene improves too, 6-5 on the season, 6-5 in Great American Conference play.
The Red-and-Black finished with two double-figure scorers. Bubba Furlong finished the game with 15 points from six of eight shooting. Parrish Hewitt, the second scorer in double figures for the Rangers with 13 points on five of 12 shooting. Hewitt led the team in rebounding with nine, followed by Fulong with five. Derrick White Jr. led the team in assists with five of the teams 11.
SNU led by Adokiye Iyaye with a game-high 19 points on the afternoon, followed by Karlyn Kenner and Manny Dixon with 11 points as their three double-figure scorers.
Saturday game started with a defensive battle as it took two and half minutes for the first basket of the game from a Hewitt three-pointer. The game featured 12 turnovers in the first ten minutes of the game from the two teams combined, with 11 missed shots in that time frame. At the halfway point in the first half, the Rangers led 9-6 after a Furlong layup.
SNU would take their first lead of the game with 9:23 remaining in the first half, sparked from a 7-0 run to take a 13-9 lead. Hewitt would start the Rangers response bringing Northwestern back in front with an 8-0 run opening a 17-13 Ranger lead late in the first half.
The Crimson Storm's defense caused trouble for the Rangers, holding the home team to two points in the final seven minutes. Southern Nazarene would go on a 10-2 run led by Manny Dixon to give Southern Nazarene a 23-19 lead into halftime. Hewitt led the Rangers with eight points in the opening half.
Southern Nazarene changed the game in the opening minutes of the second half. A 12-0 run led by Karlyn Kenner having six of the 12 points. The run would open a 35-19 lead for the Storm as Furlong would end that run with a layup, but another Crimson Storm 8-0 a run would build their largest lead at 22 points 43-21.
Out of the timeout, Furlong scored six straight for the Rangers providing new life with a 12-0 run getting the game back within 10 points. Rangers defense helped spark the comeback forcing the storm 0-5 in that frame with three turnovers. Southern Nazarene then got the lead back to nine at 47-38.
A corner three by Arturro Bingham would get the Rangers within five, but that would be as close as they would be able to get at 53-48 with three minutes to play. After Bingham's foul shots in the final seconds to make it a 57-50 game. The score would end there, with the Crimson Storm holding on for the victory.
The Red-and-Black will travel to Weatherford, Oklahoma to take on rival Southwestern Oklahoma State Monday evening for another Great American Conference matchup following the Lady Rangers game at 5:30.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Men's Basketball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
