ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State returned to play Thursday evening for their first game since break. The Rangers dropped the conference matchup on a last second shot by the Muleriders as the Rangers fell 79-78. Southern Arkansas closed the game on a 7-0 run to win the game.
Northwestern falls to 4-5 on the season with a 0-5 conference record. The Red-and-Black were led by Malik Parsons with 23 points and Brian Free with 21 points. Shavaul Butters finished with 15 rebounds in the evening.
First HALF :
Northwestern started the game firing, knocking down back-to-back three pointers to take an early 6-0 lead. Following a Free three pointer White had a put back slam to take an 11-2 lead early in the game. Free hit his third three pointer in the first four minutes of the game. Northwestern led 14-5 at the opening media timeout.
Out of the timeout Jason Douglas-Stanley knocked down his first three of the game taking a 17-5 lead. The Rangers continued to hold on to the lead as following four straight from the Muleriders Parsons hit his first three pointer of the evening. The two teams traded three pointers back to back as Northwestern held the 24-15 lead into the media timeout.
After a two minute scoring drought following the timeout Southern Arkansas brought their deficit down to five at 24-19. Parsons ended their run before a Larry White layup pushed the Ranger lead back to double digits at 36-25. Southern Arkansas closed the half on a 14-4 to cut the Ranger lead down to 40-39 right before halftime.
Second Half:
Southern Arkansas continued their run early in the second half opening the half on a 7-0 run forcing the Rangers into a timeout trailing 46-40. The Rangers responded with a 10-2 run finished off by a Chance Love layup and a three from Douglas-Stanley. Southern Arkansas responded, opening their largest lead of the game at 59-50 following two foul shots into the media timeout.
Parsons helped the Rangers climb back into the game scoring five straight for Northwestern. Back-to-back three's by Douglas Stanley and Free pushed Northwestern back in front with 8:39 left in the game at 64-62. The teams went back and forth with three lead changes in the next two minutes.
The game was locked at 70-70 with 3:33 left in the game. Parsons finished a fastbreak layup off a steal from Free followed by a Free three pushing Northwestern in front 75-70. After a Muleriders layup Parson completed a three point play as Northwestern led 78-2 with 1:55 remaining.
Southern Arkansas knocked down a three pointer cutting the deficit to three. Following two Southern Arkansas foul shots the lead was cut down to one at 78-77. Off a missed jump shot Southern Arkansas finished off a putback layup by Carraway with 0.9 left in the game to win over Northwestern 79-78 Thursday evening.
Northwestern Oklahoma State will be back in action Saturday afternoon against Arkansas Monticello with tip-off set for 3:00 PM following the Lady Rangers game.
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