ADA, OKLAHOMA - The Rangers traveled to East Central for the conference opener Thursday evening. Northwestern jumped out to a 7-0 lead but a 14-0 run by the Tigers late in the game pushed the home team up 62-47 for the win.

The loss drops to Northwestern to 2-4 on the season and 0-1 in Great American Conference play. Northwestern was led in scoring by Camron McDowell with 14 points, one of three double figure scorers joined by Larry White and Brian Free.

White started the scoring with a driving layup for an early 2-0 lead. The Ranger defense continued to present opportunities early in the game after a blocked shot by Kabeya Tshibangu set up a fast break layup. Northwestern went on a 7-0 run to start the game. East Central had their first points of the game at the 17:52 mark in the first half on a triple by Keyon Thomas. The Tigers went on an 11-0 run over the Rangers to take their first lead of the game for a 16-13 lead halfway through the first half.

Larry White was able to silence the run before the Rangers regained the lead following points from Tshibangu and a three pointer by Brian Free to make it 20-16 in favor of Northwestern. Justin Norris picked up a steal as the Rangers held the Tigers scoreless for 2:30 minutes as Northwestern then pushed the lead to six at 22-16 after Larry White finished off a jumper inside the paint. Mason Jones scored inside the paint with a layup before eventually tying the score at 24-24 after Jones buried a three pointer.

White answered back though pushing the Rangers back in front at 26-24. The home team regained the lead at 28-26 following a Thomas layup. The Tigers finished off a tip-in layup from Elgohary at the buzzer taking a 32-27 lead into halftime.

As the Rangers looked to comeback Brian Free knocked down a three pointer to start the second half with a 32-30 deficit. Tshibangu then followed with three straight points for the Rangers as Northwestern trailed 35-33 with 15:23 left to play. Northwestern continued to close the gap though.

Camron McDowell scored six straight for Northwestern after drilling a three pointer and then completing a three pointer play on a fastbreak layup off Tshibangu's third block of the game. Northwestern led 39-37. Ezedinma answered back with a three pointer to keep the lead in Tigers favor 40-39. Chance Love pushed Northwestern back in front though as the two teams continued to trade baskets.

A three pointer by Nick Williams though off the bench pushed East Central in front 45-42 before a Brian Free three evened the score right back. Northwestern got close to 48-47 following two foul shots by Clark.

East Central took control of the game from there after burying a three pointer for a 51-47 lead before going on a 14-0 run to take a 62-47 lead over the Rangers. The Tigers maintained the double digit lead through the rest of the way for the final four minutes. 

East Central went on to win 68-52 over the Rangers in the conference opener of the season.

The Rangers return home for a game against Oklahoma Baptist Saturday afternoon in a court dedication game for two former coaches Barton and Battisti.