Alva, Okla. - The Rangers of Northwestern extend their winning streak by taking down the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas University. Both teams battled back and forth before The Rangers started to pull away late in the second half after building a nine point advantage, their largest of the game, which they would never lose.
Northwestern advances to 13-6 on the season with a 8-5 conference record. This win makes it four in a row by The Rangers. The Muleriders fall to a 10-8 overall record with a 6-6 conference record.
Bubba Furlong and Brian Free led The Rangers with 14 points each. Despite fouling out in the second half, Larry White finished with 13 points. White also led the team in steals with 3. Bubba Furlong led in rebounds with 9 and Malik Parsons led in assists with 8.
1st Half - Both teams started off strong going point for point before the Rangers opened a five point lead at 9-4 right before the opening media timeout. A jumper by Anthony Jones and three pointer by Larry White allowed The Rangers to gain an early lead over the Muleriders. Southern Arkansas responded with two free throws. The teams reached a stalemate, going possession for possession without points as the teams went scoreless for the next three mintues. A three point play by The Muleriders broke the stalemate and tied the game 9-9 going into the second media timeout of the half.
A jumper by Bubba Furlong put The Rangers in the lead by two with 10 minutes remaining in the half. The Muleriders responded with a jump shot. White quickly fired back with a layup, steal, and dunk extending The Ranger lead 15-11 before the third media timeout. Southern Arkansas fired back with a jumper and dunk to tie the game. Furlong contributed a three point play finishing at the line. Jones added an additional three pointer extending Northwestern's lead 23-15 going into the final media timeout.
Out of the timeout The Muleriders went on a 8-0 lead to tie the game back at 23-23. A fantastic assist by Malik Parsons and three point play by Furlong brought The Rangers back in front. Off the bench, Chance Love contributed two free throws. A last second jumper by Southern Arkansas allowed the Muleriders to lead 28-30 going into halftime. White led The Rangers with 11 points followed closely by Furlong with 10. Furlong led the team in rebounds with 6. Parsons led with 3 assists.
2nd Half - The Rangers were first to score out of halftime. A layup by Furlong ended The Mulerider lead. The Muleriders quickly responded with two free throws and a layup. Two more made free throws allowed Southern Arkansas to take an early lead in the half, 30-35. Parsons contributed two free throws for The Rangers. The Muleriders fired back with a dunk. An easy dribble drive by White kept Northwestern at close range. Brain Free sank a three point shot and took an offensive charge to tie the game at 37-37 before the first media timeout.
Out of the timeout, Free fired off another three and a dribble-drive bunny. Parsons contributed with a three pointer. The Muleriders responded by scoring four consecutive free throws. Free added an additional two free throws to keep The Rangers in the lead 47-42. Out of the second media timeout, Ravel Moody contributed two free-throws. Jones added an additional layup and jump shot. The Muleriders responded with a hook shot to end a 5-0 Ranger run. The Rangers held their lead 54-48 going into the third media timeout.
Another fantastic assist by Parsons and a layup by Love extended The Ranger lead. Southern Arkansas would sink two free throws to make it a six point game with just under seven minutes remaining. Free contributed a contested fast break layup. Off the bench, Eric Hancik scored another layup to bring The Rangers to an eight point lead at 60-53. The Muleriders would respond with two layups going into the last media timeout. Furlong sank two free throws out of the final media timeout cutting the Ranger lead to five. Moody contributed two free throws. Southern Arkansas would fire back with a three pointer making it a three point game with under two minutes remaining at 64-61. Furlong contributed a block as teammate Free would add an additional two free throws to ensure a Ranger victory. The Rangers added to their three game winning streak, defeating the Muleriders 71-66.
The Rangers hit the road early next week heading to Monticello Arkansas on Monday for a make-up conference game. Northwestern will face off against the Weevils at 5:30 PM looking to complete the season series win over the Weevils.
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