ARKADELPHIA, ARK- Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's basketball looks to continue their hot stretch after winning seven straight games following their win Thursday at Ouachita Baptist 75-69.
The Rangers (16-6 overall and 11-5 GAC) enter Saturday looking for their eighth straight win overall and their fifth straight on the road. Northwestern has a 6-3 road record on the season and will look for the season sweep over Henderson State after beating them 76-66 in early January.
Northwestern is led offensively but four players averaging double figure scorers on the season first is Larry White at 13.1 points per game followed by Bubba Furlong at 12.7, Malik Parsons at 12.4 and Brian Free at 12.3. Parsons has now scored double figures in his past seven games after taking his game to the next level and has hit 20 in two straight games. Chance Love and Furlong lead the team in FG% at 64.7% and 57.7% for the season. Brian Free leads the team with 60 made three pointers on 43.2% from the field and a 91.3% foul shot percentage. Free leads the Rangers with 62 assists on the season.
The Red-and-Black are first in the conference in team field goal percentage and second in points per game on the season. The Rangers rank second in assists per game as a top team offensively in the GAC. THE Rangers also lead the conference in free throws made on the season.
Northwestern's defense has been led by Larry White with 41 steals on the season which ranks second in the conference as the Rangers rank second in turnovers forced per game. Bubba Furlong leads the conference in blocked shots with 2.73 per game and a total of 60 blocks which is third in the nation.
Scouting Henderson State:
The Reddies (13-9 overall 9-7 GAC) enter play dropping their last game out on Thursday to Southwestern. Henderson State has won two of their last three games and enters Saturday a total of 6-4 on their home floor.
Henderson State has been led by their defense so far in the 2021-2022 season as they are ranked second in FG% defense and fourth in points allowed at 67.2. They forced the most turnovers per game in the conference. They are led in steals by Quawn Marshall at 30 on the season.
Their offense ranks 11th in points per game at 68.5 on the season with a field-goal percentage of 42.7 per game ranking 10th in the conference. Malik Riddle is their lone scorer averaging double figures on the season at 10.1 per game shooting 40% on the season.
History:
Henderson State leads the series history between the two teams 9-8 dating back to 2013 and are 7-3 in the last 10 games. Henderson is 6-2 on their home floor in the season. Northwestern is 2-3 in the last five games.
The Rangers will look for their first win in Arkadelphia since 2015 in a 78-77 win. The Rangers took the first meeting this season between the two teams 76-66 behind a 22 point effort from Bubba Furlong and 13 points from Free.
