ALVA, OKLA - Northwestern Oklahoma State will look to continue their hot stretch after sweeping their third straight week following a win over East Central on Saturday. The Rangers will start their final two game trip to Arkansas Thursday evening. The Rangers will try and complete the season sweep after a 16 point win on January 8th. 

The Rangers (15-6 overall and 10-5 GAC) will look to win their seventh straight game on Thursday. Northwestern is 8-2 since the New Year started in their last ten games. 

Northwestern will look to continue their balanced attack as the team ranks 1st in FG% defense holding their opponent at 41.7% shooting while the team ranks second in field-goal percentage at 48.4%. Northwestern is fifth in points allowed at 67.8 a game while countering with scoring 77.2 points a game good for second in the conference. 

Larry White leads the team scoring 13.4 points per game as one of four double figure scorers as Bubba Furlong scores 13.0 points per game, Brian Free scores 12.2 and Malik Parsons averages 12.0 per game. Bubba Furlong leads the team with 59% shooting from the field. Free leads the team shooting 44% from behind the arc on the season. Free ranks first in the conference in three point field goals made. 

Defensively White leads the team with 38 steals which is second  in the Great American Conference. While Furlong leads the team and conference in blocked shots at 2.62 per game and a total of 55 blocks on the season.

Scouting the Tigers:

Ouachita Baptist (5-16 overall and 3-12 GAC) are coming into Thursday's game following a loss to Henderson State. The Tigers are 1-4 in their last five games while dropping three straight at home. The Tigers are 3-6 in Arkadelphia this season. 

The Tigers come in ranked 10 in scoring this season in the conference at 69.0 points per game on 44.3% shooting from the field ranking eighth in the conference. The Tigers are sixth in assists at 13.4 per game on the season. 

Ma'Darius Hobson leads the team with 15.8 points per game as one of three double figure scorers along with Kendarious Smith at 12.9 and Tylar Haynes 11.2 points a game. Larenz Nero leads the team at 58 assists on the season.  

Defensively the Tigers ranked ninth in field goal percentage against and 10th in points allowed at 74.1 points per game. They are fourth in steals forcing the fifth most turnovers per game at 151 steals at 7.2 per game.

History: 

Northwestern took the first of two meetings this season 83-67 behind 22 points for Brian Free to lead all scorers and one of five players to reach double figures. Bubba Furlong had 18 points in the win alongside a team high nine rebounds. 

Overall Northwestern trails the series history 11-6 against the Tigers dating back to 2013. The Rangers are 2-3 in their last five games against the Tigers but 0-5 in the last five in Arkadelphia. The Rangers will look for the first win at Ouachita since January 17th in 2013 the first ever meeting between the two. 

Follow the Game:

Stats: https://obutigers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/ouachitasportsdigitalnetwork