ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's basketball bounced back with a 82-74 win over Arkansas Monticello Saturday afternoon. The Rangers used a 9-0 run to take a 79-70 lead after the game was tied at 68 to take control late in the game for the win. 
 

The Rangers secured their first conference win of the season, now holding a 5-5 overall record on the year as Arkansas Monticello falls to 5-7 on the year with a 1-5 conference mark. 
 

Malik Parsons led the Rangers with 29 points as one of four Northwestern players to score in double figures. Brian Free was another with 22 points on the afternoon, Jason Douglas Stanley with 13 points and Shavaul Butters finished with 11 while adding nine rebounds to lead Northwestern. 
 

FIRST HALF:

Northwestern opened the scoring Saturday afternoon with five straight points started by Butters. Parsons scored the next three to push the Rangers in front. A Jason Douglas Stanley three put the Rangers in front 10-4. Arkansas Monticello answered back with back to back three pointers to give the game its first in game tie. 
 

The teams went back and forth as the game remained tied at 15-15 with 13:56 left to play in the half. Free pushed the Rangers in front with a three pointer with 12:25 left to play in the half as the Rangers took a 21-18 lead. Parson scored on a layup before completing the three point play at the foul line to take a 24-20 lead. Arkansas Monticello hit a three out of the media timeout to get back within one with 10:57 remaining in the half. Parsons and Butters responded with layups putting the Rangers back-up by five at 28-23. White finished off a fast break dunk off a steal to put the Rangers up 30-25. Arkansas Monticello regained the lead off back-to-back three pointers finishing off a four point play taking a 32-20 lead with 4:31 left in the half. Parsons tied the game at 32 right before the final media timeout of the half getting back to the foul line. 
 

Monticello and Northwestern traded baskets as the game was locked at 37 in the final minute of the half. Off of a defensive rebound Louis of Monticello drew a foul before completing the foul shots at the line to take a 39-37 lead over the Rangers into halftime. 
 

SECOND HALF: 

Northwestern hit the first shot of the second half as Douglas-Stanley tied the game at 39. Arkansas Monticello jumped out in front from there taking a 44-40 lead on a Cole Anderson rebound before a layup on the other end. Northwestern went on a quick 5-0 spurt following a White layup before Butters completed a three point play right before the first media timeout as the Rangers led 45-44. After Arkansas Monticello took the lead, Free tied the game back at 48 on a corner three pointer with 16:06 left to play in the game. 
 

The game was locked at 52-52 with 13:22 to play in the game before the visitors went on a 6-0 run to take a 58-52 lead with just over 11 minutes to go in the game. Halfway through the second half Arkansas Monticello led 60-56 before a steal by Butters leading to a fastbreak layup for Larry White sparked the next Northwestern run. The Rangers completed a 10-0 run to take a 66-60 lead finished off by Douglas-Stanley. Northwestern held Monticello scoreless for four minutes before a foul shot put them back on the board with 6:23 left in the game trailing 66-61. 
 

Arkansas Monticello answered back however, tying the game back at 68-68 with 4:30 left in the game. Free the next time down the floor though put the Rangers back in front at 70-68 This started another 9-0 run for the Rangers as they built a 79-70 lead in the final minute of the game. Northwestern grew the lead to double digits at 81-71 before Parsons closed out the win with his 29th point of the game giving the game the final score of 82-74. 
 

Northwestern will hit the road next with a trip to Arkadelphia Arkansas for two games as the Rangers face Henderson State Thursday evening at 7:30 PM before facing Ouachita Baptist Saturday afternoon at 3:00 PM.