ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State hosted Cameron University Saturday afternoon as the Rangers held on for an 89-86 victory behind 34 points from Malik Parsons. The Rangers used a 13-4 run halfway through the second half to open a double digit lead that the Red-and-Black did not lose.
The win improves Northwestern to 3-0 for the first time in the Division II era and first since the 2010-11 season Men's Basketball has opened 3-0.
First Half:
Parsons opened the scoring for the game with the first basket in the opening 20 seconds of the game. The Ranger guard opened with four for the first five points for the Rangers as Northwestern held onto a 5-4 lead. Butters ended a scoring drought by both teams with a layup putback off an offensive rebound to give the Rangers a 7-4 lead. Kennedy Milton followed with his first three of the day to put the Rangers up 10-4. Cameron quickly answered with a 7-0 run taking that into the media timeout with an 11-10 advantage.
The Aggies stretched their run out of the break to a 16-10 lead for a 12-0 run in total before Chance Love ended the run with a jumper. Cameron quickly answered back with a three pointer holding onto their lead and eventually got their lead to double digits at 22-12. Brian Free and Hancik cut the lead down to four at 25-21 into the second media timeout.
The teams were scoreless for two minutes out of the under eight media timeout before Hancik hit a free throw before Love put the Rangers back in front at 26-25. Cameron responded getting back in front taking a 35-29 lead at the seven minute mark. A Brian Free three cut the deficit back down to one possession into the final media timeout of the opening half at 35-32. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch of the first half as a Love layup followed by a Parsons dunk put the Rangers down 41-38 at the break.
SECOND HALF:
Free opened the second half knocking down a foul shot following a technical foul after the final buzzer of the first half, to cut the deficit to 41-39. Cameron had an answer for every Ranger attack to start the second half holding onto the lead following a Butters layup as the Ranger trailed 47-45. Butter followed with his second straight basket to even the score at 47. Parsons hit a three pointer to push the Rangers back in front at 50-49 for their first lead since the first half heading into the timeout.
Parsons knocked down his second straight three pointer to take a 53-49 lead. Parsons then finished a put back layup following his own miss to give up 20 points a little under the halfway point of the second half for a 56-51 lead. The Rangers took advantage once more on second chance points on a put back dunk by Butters. At the halfway point of the second half Larry White finished a layup for his eighth point of the night putting the Rangers in front by double digits at 66-55. A corner three by Chance Love gave the Rangers their largest lead of the afternoon at 71-57. As the Aggies tried to make their comeback cutting into the Ranger lead in half at 71-64, Parsons ended the run with a three pointer to put the lead back to 10.
Cameron continued to slowly knock the Ranger lead down as they got within five right out of the final media break at 81-76. Parsons answered with his 31st point of the day to end the run and hold a seven point Ranger lead. The Aggies had one more late charge in them, getting to within three at 87-84 just under a minute to go before a layup put the score at 87-86 in favor of Northwestern. Parsons was able to seal the game with two late foul shots for a 89-86 victory over Cameron for the team's third straight win.
Northwestern will host East Central next on Thursday December 1st to open Great American Conference play.
