ALVA, Oklahoma - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball team returns to action with a Thursday night game in Searcy Arkansas. The Rangers will tip-off at 7:30 PM following the Lady Rangers vs Bisons game at 5:30 PM in the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Northwestern enters play sixth in the conference witih a 4-5 conference record as the Bisons enter play 11th with a 2-5 conference record.
The Rangers (9-6 overall, 4-5 GAC) will look to snap a two game losing streak following a seven point loss to Oklahoma Baptist this past Saturday. The Rangers had won two straight before that and are 2-2 in the last four games.
Northwestern will look to continue a blanched attack offensively and defensively Thursday night. The Rangers sit third in the conference in scoring offense and sixth in the conference in scoring defense while sitting in first in total and blocked shots per game and third in the conference in steals. The Red-and-Black also lead the conference in total rebounds on the season and are fifth in offensive rebounds per game.
Northwestern is led in blocks by Bubba Furlong with 38 on the season followed by Larry White and Ravel Moody with 11 each. Furlong sits first in conference blocks and eighth in the nation. White's 24 steals leads the team and is sixth in the conference in steals.
The Rangers strong offense is in part to the shot selection as the Rangers are second in field-goal percentage in the conference as a team shooting 49.1 percent from the field. Furlong leads the team shooting 59% followed by White at 58% from the field. White leads the team at 14.5 points per game as one of four players averaging double figures. Furlong scores 11.5 a game followed by Brian Free with 11.5 and Malik Parsons at 10.8.
Free leads the team with 39 made three pointers shooting 45% from behind the arc as Ravel Moody leads the team in percentage at 45.7% on 21 made three point shots. Rangers are third in the conference in total three point field goals made.
Scouting the Opponent Harding University:
Harding (4-9 overall and 2-5 GAC) will enter Thursday's game after falling in their last game to Oklahoma Baptist. As a whole the Bisons have dropped four of their last five games. Harding has not played in a game since January 6th. Harding have won three of their four games this season at home.
The Bisons rank sixth in the conference in scoring averaging 73.3 points per game led by Taylor Currie at 18.4 per game as one of three double figure scorers followed by Stetson Smithson, at 15.5 and Ramiro Santiago at 11.2 per game. As a team the Bisons shoot 44% from the field. Santiago also leads the team in assists with 34 on the season as the team ranks third in the conference in that statistic.
Harding's defense is 12th in scoring defense allowing 79.7 points per game. The team ranks 10th in the conference in steals and third in the conference in blocked shots. Stetson Smithson leads the team with 17 steals on the season with Taylor Currie leading the team with 21 blocks on the year.
Rangers will look to take advantage of the turnover margin as Northwestern is third in the conference in turnovers forced on the season as the Bisons are 10th in turnovers per game.
History:
Northwestern will look to win their second straight game over Harding after winning their last meeting on February 29th 78-68. Harding won the last meeting in Searcy in overtime 90-89 on a buzzer beater.Rangers are 5-1 in the last six meetings between the two schools overall and 2-1 in the last three meetings in Searcy.
Follow the Game:
Watch: https://thelink.harding.edu/hu16/
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=368910
Radio: https://mixlr.com/classic-hits-1057-krdr/
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Men's Basketball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
