ALVA, OKLA.- Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's basketball will look to continue their five game win streak on Saturday. The Rangers won the first meeting between the two teams earlier in the season in December. 
 

Northwestern will be holding their annual Hall of Fame game with ceremonies taking place during halftime of the women's game as previous inductees will be honored. At halftime of the men's game this year's class along with the class of 2021will be formally inducted. 
 

The Red-and-Black (14-6 overall and 9-5 GAC) will take on East Central. The Rangers enter play 5-0 in their last five and winner of 3 straight at home. 
 

The Rangers continue to bring balance each game following a week sweep this past week over Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Monticello (twice). Northwestern did not allow more than 66 points in either of those victories. Northwestern's defense is third in field goal percentage defense and fifth in points allowed per game. The Red-and-Black have been aggressive on the defensive side of the ball forcing the second most turnovers per game at just under 15. Larry White has been dominant leading the conference in steals with 38 on the season as Northwestern as a team is first with 156. Bubba Furlong has been a key protecting the rim as he leads the conference and is 11th in blocked shots per game at 2.5 and leads the conference in blocks with 50 which is sixth in Division II. He is also second in the conference in rebounding. 
 

Northwestern's offense is top tier in the conference as the Rangers rank first in field-goal percentage at 48.4% on the year. The Red-and-Black offense ranks second in total points per game at 77.4. The team is ranked fifth in three point shots and percentage. The Rangers are in the middle of the pack ranked sixth in turnovers per game. Rangers will share the ball at a high rate ranked second in the conference in assists per game.
 

White leads the Rangers in scoring at 13.7 points per game. He is one of four double-figure scorers, joined by Bubba Furlong at 12, Brian Free 12.2 per game, and Malik Parsons at 11.6 per night. Furlong leads the team at 58.8% from the field, with White at 53.2% part of the conference leading team. Free leads the team with 54 total assists on the season with Malik Parsons and Bubba Furlong at 49 and 42 respectively in a balanced Rangers attack.  
 

Scouting East Central:

The Tigers (8-10 overall and 6-6 GAC) enter Saturday on a 2-game win streak with wins over Arkansas Tech and Harding last week. East Central comes in 3-5 on the road dropping their last game away from Ada. 
 

Similar to the Rangers the Tigers are a high offensive team ranking third in the conference in points per game at 75.9 each outing. The team ranks third in the conference in field goal percentage at 47.0%. Josh Apple leads the team with 15.9 points per game ranking first on the team out of four double figure scorers. He is with Shemar Smith 12.6, Jalen Crutchifeld 11.1 and Brennen Burns at 10.4. 
 

Brennen Burns leads the team with 29 steals on the season as AJ Ferguson leads the team with 12 blocks on the season to date. As a team they rank seventh in total steals on the year forcing the ninth most turnovers. East Central ranks fifth in the conference in blocked shots per game. 
 

Series History:

Overall the Tigers lead the series history 11-9 dating back to the 2013 season. Northwestern took the last meeting between the two which came earlier this season back in December in a 73-71 win. ECU has won 3 of the last five overall. The Rangers will look for their first win over the Tigers in Percefull Fieldhouse since the 2017-2018 season in a 101-93 win as the Tigers have won the last four in Alva. 
 

In the first meeting between the two teams the Rangers had two double figure scorers as Jason Douglas Stnaley led with 12 followed by Brian Free with 10 points. Northwestern shot 48% from the field that game. For the Tigers they were led by Shemar Smith with a game high 20 points followed by Aj Ferguson with 15 as the team shot 40%.
 

Follow the Game:

Stats: https://riderangersride.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/NWOSURangers 

Radio: https://mixlr.com/classic-hits-1057-krdr/