ALVA, Okla-  The Rangers are set to host the Bulldogs Thursday evening at 7:30 PM as they finish preparation for the final game of the three game homestand. Northwestern (9-4 overall, and 4-3 Great American Conference) enter their 14th game of the season having won their last two games with wins over Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist this past week both being double digit victories. Southwestern (3-9 overall and 2-5 GAC) enter their 13th game on a four game losing streak. 
 

The Rangers will look to pick-up where they ended last game after pulling away in the second half in their game against Ouachita. The Rangers used an 18-2 run to pull away and earn the 16 point victory led by 22 points from Brian Free and an 18 point nine rebound, three block night from Bubba Furlong. 
 

The Red-and-Black will look to carry in strong offensive performances this past week averaging 79.5 points per game on 51 percent shooting as a team. Northwestern now averages 78.3 on the season which ranks third in the conference in scoring.
 

 The team is led by Larry White as one of four players averaging double-digit scoring on the season. White scores 13.6 per game followed by Furlong with 11.8, Malik Parsons with 11.1 and Brian Free at 10.9 on the season. Free has hit the most three pointers with 33 on the season and his second on the team shooting 45% from behind the arc only behind Ravel Moody shooting 48.7%. Furlong leads the team shooting at 61.5% and Larry White at 59.7%. 
 

Free leads the charge on offense in assists with 35 on the season as Furlong and Parsons have 29 each on the year. The team ranks second in the conference in assists per game with 15.2.
 

Northwestern's defense will look to pick up from last game after holding their opponents to 66.5 points per game on 43% shooting including 32.3 % from behind the arc. The Rangers rank first in the conference in blocked shots with 66 and eighth in the country, while 11 in the country for blocked shots per game. This is led by Furlong averaging 2.54 blocks per game 33 on the season. The Rangers are third in the conference with 97 steals on the year led by White with 20. 
 

Scouting Southwestern Oklahoma State:
 

The Bulldogs come into the Thursday game on a four game losing streak including their last six road games dating back to last season. They are 0-4 on the road this year. 
 

Southwestern comes into the game averaging 68.3 points per game which is ranked 11th in the conference. They are led by Damion Thornton with 19 points per contest as one of three double figure scorers joined by Kamden Gipson, and Chris Braggs each averaging 12 a game. Thornton is shooting 43% from the field. Gipson leads the team with 35 assists on the year as the team is averaging 9.5 a game. 
 

Defensively the Bulldogs are led by Gipson with 16 steals on the season followed by Thornton with 12. Mark Berry leads the team with 10 blocks. The Bulldogs allow 76.8 points per game which is tenth in the conference. 
 

History: 
 

The Rangers lead the series history since joining Division II 11-9 overall, but the Bulldogs have won the last four meetings between the two teams. Southwestern has taken the last three games in Percefull Fieldhouse as the Rangers look to snap the losing streak against the Bulldogs. 
 

The Thursday game for the Men and Women's will be a black out for Ranger fans as 600 t-shirts will be handed out to fans sponsored by SGA and University Relations. 
 

Follow the Game:

 Stats: https://riderangersride.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary 

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/NWOSURangers