ALVA, OKLA - The Ranger Basketball team is set to return home for a Thursday evening game against Arkansas Tech with tip-off set for 5:30 PM. The Rangers will look for the regular season sweep over the Wonder Boys after winning the first matchup in Russellville, Arkansas.
Northwestern (17-7 overall and 12-6 GAC) is coming off a Tuesday night defensive battle win 53-48 over rival Southwestern.The Rangers have won eight of their last nine games and will carry in a home record of 9-3 including three straight wins in Percefull Fieldhouse.
The Rangers come in ranked second in the conference in field-goal percentage at 47.6% on the season averaging 75.8 points per game which is also second in the GAC. Northwestern is third in the conference in assists with 13.8 per game.
Northwestern is led in scoring by Larry White at 13.1 points per game good for one of four Rangers in double figures on the season along with Malik Parsons at 12.5, Brain Free at 12 and Bubba Furlong with 11.9. Furlong leads the team in FG% at 57.5% with Chance Love at 57.1%. Brain Free leads the team in three point shooting at 64 made three pointers on 42.7% shooting from behind the arc.
Furlong continues to lead the conference in blocked shots per game and total with 63 on the season ranked fourth in the nation. As a team the Rangers are first with 121 on the year ranked sixth in Division II. Northwestern is ranked first in opponent field goal percentage at 41.2% from the field and fourth in points allowed at 67.2 per game. The Rangers force the second most turnovers at 15.17 per game. Larry white leads the team in steals with 45 ranking first in the conference with Parsons at 32 good for 10th.
Scouting the Wonder Boys:
Arkansas Tech (9-14 overall and 6-11 GAC) is coming off a win over Harding Monday night and are 2-3 in their last five games. They come into Thursday 2-8 on the road winners of their last game away from Russellville though against Harding.
The Wonder Boys are seventh in field-goal percentage as a team with 45%, are seventh in scoring at 69.9%, and are fourth in the conference in three point shooting. Czar Perry leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game, one of three players averaging double figures along with Tony Hall and Cameron Kennedy at 13.2 points per game and 10.3. Perry leads the Wonder Boy with 68 assists on the season.
BJ Johnson leads the team in steals with 23 on the year followed by Tony Hall with 20. Niko Gosnell leads the team with 24 blocks on the season. Tony Hall leads the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game. They are fifth in the conference in defensive field goal percentage at 42.9% and are sixth in points allowed at 68.2.
History:
Arkansas Tech leads the series history 10-5 overall since 2013 when the teams first went head to head. The Rangers have won three straight though over Arkansas Tech overall including the first meeting this season.
Northwestern won that meeting 83-67 behind 20 points from Larry White and 18 from Malik Parsons as two of four double figure scorers. Free finishing with 18 and Love with 10 in the win back in January.
