Alva, Oklahoma- Northwestern Oklahoma State won their second straight game this week behind a 83-67 victory over Ouachita Baptist Saturday afternoon. The Rangers would use an 18-2 run to proper the victory on Saturday afternoon behind 16 second half points from Brian Free.
The win improves the Rangers record to 9-4 on the season with a 4-3 conference record as the loss drops Ouachita to 3-9 on the season.
Brian Free led all scorers with 22 points in the game along with seven assists in the game. He was one of five double figure scorers for the Rangers, joined by Bubba Furlong with 18, Larry White with 13, Malik Parsons and Ravel Moody with 10. Furlong led with nine rebounds followed by Anthony Jones with eight.
Ouachita started the scoring Saturday with a jump shot to start the game as they opened on a 4-1 run to take the early lead. Furlong would answer back fast with a three pointer to even the score at 4-4. The teams would hit a small stalemate staying close before the Tigers hit a three. At the first media timeout the Tigers held a 7-6 lead over the Rangers. The next four minutes the two teams would continue to trade baskets as Jones would cut the deficit back down to one at 13-12. The next media timeout the Tigers continued to hold their lead this time at 15-14 holding that one point advantage. Out of the timeout Ravel Moody buried a three to even the score back at 17-17. The game would stay even at 19-19 ten minutes through the opening half.
The visitors would open a small run to take a 30-24 lead over the Rangers at the 4:53 mark of the game. Northwestern would climb right back to knotting the score at 32-32 following a Jones jump shot. The Rangers would regain the lead at 37-34 following Moody points and Jones jump shot with 28 seconds to play in the half. Ouachita would even the score though at 37 with a three pointer right before the buzzer sounded to send the game into halftime. Furlong and Moody led the Rangers with seven points at the break.
Ouachita opened the scoring in the second half with two free throws pushing their lead to 39-37. A White jump shot tied the game at 41-41 before Furlong layup off a missed three assisted by Parson would give the Rangers the lead at 43-41 with 17:47 to play. The game was locked at 45-45 before a Brian Free three pointer sparked the Rangers run where Northwestern would gain control of the game. The Rangers would go on an 18-2 run led by Free hitting three shots behind the arc for nine of the 18 points. The Rangers shot 6-8 overall with three steals during the run over the four minute stretch setting up a 16 point advantage at 63-47.
A Free jump shot inside the arc pushed the Ranger lead to 20 for the first time of the game and the largest of the Saturday game at 71-51 at the time. Northwestern would force another Tigers miss which would allow Northwestern to burry a three from Moody off an offensive rebounded that Parson extended the possession. The Tigers used a quick 7-0 run to cut their deficit back down to 13 points at 74-61. Free scored his 20th point of the night with his sixth made three of the game (tying his career high) putting the Rangers up 77-71. A Furlong layup with a minute left in the game put the Rangers back up by 20. The Rangers would close out the 16 point victory 83-67 over the Tigers as Brian Free would finish the second half with 16 points to give him his 22 total in the game.
Northwestern will be back in action on Thursday at 7:30 PM playing host to Southwestern Oklahoma State following the conclusion of the Lady Rangers game in Percefull Fieldhouse.
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