ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State hosted Midwestern State Saturday afternoon for the final non-conference game before starting conference play. Midwestern used a fast start in this game taking a 13-2 lead in the early part before closing out a 95-78 victory over the Rangers after holding off the comeback try by Northwestern.
Northwestern drops to 2-3 on the season while Midwestern State improves to 6-0 on the season.
The Rangers were led in scoring by Brian Free after knocking down seven three pointers as one of two players in double figures joined by Camron McDowell with 14 points. Larry White led with six rebounds and Kennedy Milton with four assists.
After both teams started with a miss to open the game Midwestern State scored the first five points of the game following a layup and a three pointer before Kabeya Tshibangu finished a layup assisted by Larry White. Midwestern State took advantage of the foul line early on getting to the line three times while also knocking down two three pointers. The Mustang defense held the Rangers to 1-4 shooting to start the game as the visitors opened a 13-2 lead. McDowell drilled a three pointer for the Rangers to bring the deficit back under double digits at 13-5.
Following the first media timeout Chance Love hit his first foul shots of the game, however back to back layups by the Mustangs pushed their lead back to 18-7. Kennedy Milton had a layup off a pass by Shavaul Butters. The Mustangs continued to lead through the opening half taking their largest lead at 19 points at 30-11 following an Austin Lewis jumper at the 11:35 mark of the half. Northwestern went on a 7-0 run cutting the deficit back down to 12 trying to get closer to Midwestern State. DaRaun Clark hit back to back three pointers to help the Rangers close the gap to 31-19 at the 8:54 mark of the half. The Mustangs answered back with a 7-0 run of their own to push the lead back to 19 following four foul shots and a three pointer by Will Shepherd.
Midwestern State took a 20 point lead at the 4:45 mark following a hook shot in the pain assisted by Pierre Sanders. Chance Love finished a put back dunk in the final seconds of the first half as Northwestern trailed 50-33 at the halftime break.
LaStrap of Midwestern State opened the second half with a dunk before Northwestern started cutting into the deficit started by a Brian Free three pointer. Love followed with back to back layups assisted by Free as Northwestern was back within 13 at 58-45. Antwan Taylor stopped the run with a layup but back-to-back three pointers for Northwestern by Clark and Free kept the comeback try in gear at 64-51. Four straight points by Marquise Milton had the Rangers back within single digits at 66-57. The two teams traded three pointers as Justin Norris knocked down his second of the game as the Rangers trailed 69-60 halfway through the second half.
Three straight 3-pointers for the Rangers two from Brian Free and one from McDowell had the Rangers within five at 76-71 with eight minutes remaining in the game. Midwestern State answered back with a 12-0 run to push their lead back to 17 points at 88-71 with 1:50 left in the game. This run helped seal the Midwestern State win as the Mustangs won 95-78 over the Rangers.
Northwestern begins conference play on Thursday evening against East Central with a 7:30 PM tip-off following the Lady Rangers game. First home conference game will be December 2nd against Oklahoma Baptist.
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