ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball went against Southeastern Oklahoma State Saturday afternoon for the final game of the 2023 year. Southeastern used a 9-0 scoring run to start the second half opening an 11 point lead before closing out a 90-78 victory over the Rangers.
Northwestern drops to 3-7 on the season with a 1-3 Great American Conference record.
Camron McDowell led all scorers Saturday with 24 points on 8-18 shooting along with three assists and two rebounds. He was one of three double figure scorers joined by Marquise Milton with 16 points and Larry White with 17 points.
After a scoreless opening minute of the game Southeastern scored first on a three pointer by Chandler Dickinson taking the three point lead. The Storm hit back to back three pointers for their first two field goals while Larry White scored twice inside the paint as the Rangers trailed 6-4 in the early minutes of the game. The Rangers trailed 10-7 at the first media timeout, before Chance Love brought the Rangers within one following a layup off of an offensive rebound from Milton. A Marquise Milton three pointer with 14:37 to go in the half gave the Rangers their first lead of the game at 12-9.
Southeastern quickly tied the game back on their offensive possession with a layup. The two teams traded baskets going back and forth as Southeastern held a one point lead following a Shavaul Butters put back layup. Halfway through the opening half Southeastern took a six point lead following an and one opportunity that was capped off from Kody Clouet.
Northwestern scored eight straight to answer following a Brian Free three pointer and Marquise Milton three pointer that pushed the Rangers in front 26-24 with 7:35 left to go in the half. The run continued though as McDowell stretched it to a 30-24 lead with 6:09 left to play in the half.
Rangers took a 37-32 before Southeastern closed the gap and eventually tied the game at 38-38 following a three pointer by Kyle Leslie. This started five straight for the Storm to take a 42-38 lead into the halftime break.
Southeastern continued their run to open the second half as they extended their lead to double digits early into the second half at the 17:44 mark with a 49-38 lead. Milton ended the Rangers scoring drought with his 10th point of the game for a 49-40 Ranger deficit at the 17:22 mark. As Northwestern continued to close the gap Kabeya Tshibangu finished off a two handed jam cutting the deficit down to seven.
The Savage Storm then pushed the lead back to double figures with a 59-49 lead. Southeastern grew their largest lead with 15 points following a Jett Sternberger jump shot. The largest lead of the game was at 19 points at 78-59.
Larry White hit his first three pointer late in the second half as his three ended a Storm run bringing the score to 80-64. Northwestern brought their deficit down to 11 is the closest the team got following a couple foul shots by McDowell but Southeastern was able to close out the 90-78 victory over the Rangers Saturday afternoon.
Northwestern has concluded the fall semester portion of the schedule in 2023 with the next game on January 4th to start the new year against Arkansas Monticello.
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