ALVA, OKLA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers return to action Saturday afternoon with tip-off set for 3:00 PM at the Noble Complex in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Northwestern will be coming off a Thursday night loss to Southwestern which snapped a two-game win streak.
The Rangers (9-5 overall, 4-4 Great American Conference) sit in sixth place in the conference as the team takes on Oklahoma Baptist (9-5 overall, and 6-2 in conference play) sitting tied for first in the league.
Northwestern will look to continue their balanced approach to date on the season as the Rangers rank fifth in the conference in scoring defense allowing 68.6 points per game along with scoring 77.9 per game which is fourth in the conference.
The Red-and-Black defense has been led by Bubba Furlong who sits first in the conference and sixth in the nation in blacks shots per game at 2.64 per game. The team as a whole sits first in the conference and 12th in the nation at 5.1 per game. Northwestern forces the third most turnovers in the conference after ranking second in the conference in steals with 103 on the season good for 7.4 per game led by Larry White.
The offense for Northwestern is led by White scoring 14.1 points a game as one of four double figure scorers leading the team with 197 total points. Furlong is second on the team at 11.6 a game for the Rangers while bringing down a team leading 7.8 rebounds. Brian Free is third at 10.9 a game leading the team in three point shooting with 36 and second in percentage at 44.4%. Ravel Moody leads the team hitting 46.7% of these three point attempts. Malik Parson is the fourth Ranger at 10.6 points on 54.4 percent shooting from the field.
Scouting the Bison:
Oklahoma Baptist comes into the Saturday matchup winning four of their last five games after having their four game win streak snapped Thursday evening in a 20 point loss to Southern Nazarene on the road. The Bison enter Saturday's game 4-1 at home and winners of their last two in Noble Complex.
The Bison are the seventh ranked defense in the conference allowing 71.4 points a night while they rank fifth in scoring with 73.8 on the offensive end of the floor. Oklahoma Baptist is second behind the Rangers in blocked shots per game averaging 3.7 per game.
Burke Putnam leads the team with 21.3 points per game on 50% shooting from the field, along with leading the team in assists with 47 on the season. He is one of four double figure scorers including Brantly Thompson at 12.8, followed by Jaquan Simms and Harrison Stoddart at 10.8 each.
History:
Oklahoma Baptist won the first meeting between the two teams as the Rangers look for revenge Saturday afternoon. Putnam led the Bison with 20 as one of three double figure scorers, as for the Rangers Free led the team with 17 as one of three double figures as well.
Northwestern will look to snap a six game losing streak as Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday as the Rangers have not won since the 2018-2019 season in a one point victory in Alva.
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