Shawnee, Oklahoma- Northwestern Oklahoma State is set for the conference opening round of the 2021-2022 playoffs Northwestern the three seed will tip-off at 2:15 against six seeded Southern Arkansas in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The two programs split the regular season series 1-1.
Northwestern (20-8 overall 15-7 GAC) entered Friday winners in four of their last five games to close out the regular season.
The Rangers had three players on the GAC all conference teams in Malik Parsons, Larry White and Bubba Furlong. Furlong was also voted defensive player of the year.
White led the Rangers in scoring this season averaging 12.9 points per game closely in front of Parsons at 12.8. They are two of the Rangers double figure scorers also joined by Furlong at 12.5 and Brian Free at 12.0 Free currently leads Northwestern in three point shooting along with team assists as the Rangers share the ball the third most per game as a team at 13.7. Free is first in the conference in three pointers made, three point percentage and three pointers per game.
As an offense the Rangers rank second at 75.9 points per game on 47.7% shooting as a team from the field which is second best in the conference. Northwestern leads the conference in free throws made this season adding to their successful season on the offensive side of the floor.
Northwestern's defense has helped the Rangers success this season ranking fifth in points allowed this holding their opponent to 42.9% shooting from the field ranking third in the conference. Northwestern ranks first in the conference in total steals and first in the conference in total blocks. Furlong was the team leader first in the conference in blocks with 72 on the season averaging 2.6 per game and eight in Division II. White led the team in steals with 56 on the year and was 29th in the nation.
Scouting the Muleriders:
Southern Arkansas (17-11 overall and 13-9 GAC) entered play 3-2 in their last five games with their final win of the regular season in the last game against Arkansas Tech. Overall the Muleriders enter play 0-2 in a neutral site including dropping their last four neutral site games.
Devante Brooks leads the team with 17.6 points per game, one of four double figure scorers for the Muleriders joined by Aaron Lucas (14.2), Jalen Brooks (12.4), and Blake Rogers (10.6). Lucas leads the team with 94 assists on the year ranking sixth in the conference. As a team Southern Arkansas scores 75.3 points per game for third in the conference.
Their defense holds opponents to 67.2 points per game on 42.6% shooting ranked third and second in the conference. They force 14.29 turnovers a game for third in the conference as they rank fourth in total steals.
History:
Overall this will be the 20th meeting between the two schools as the Rangers lead the overall series 12-7 dating back to 2012. Northwestern has won three of the last four games against the Muleriders. The two teams split the regular season series 1-1 each winning at home.
in the Ranges home win Northwestern used a balanced scoring effort with all five starters scoring double figures in the five point victory with Free and Furlong leading the team with 14 each that afternoon. Northwestern won 71-66. In the loss on the road White led the team with 15 points as the Rangers fell 69-49.
Link:
stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=gac
video: https://www.gacsportsnetwork.com/watch.html
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