ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball continued their three game home stand with a overtime loss 91-89 in the final seconds. The game featured eight ties and five lead changes with the largest being 11 points early in the first half for the Rangers. Henderson State grabbed a nine point lead for their largest.
Northwestern was led in points by Malik Parsons with 31 along with seven assists and three rebounds. Larry White finished with 21 points and six rebounds.
Northwestern jumped out of the gate fast on Saturday as Marquise Milton stole the ball finishing a fast break layup for two of his 13 points in the afternoon. After the Rangers forced another turnover to start the game. After a defensive rebound by Larry White Free finished the fast break with a layup. The run stretched to nine to start the game following a jump shot from Parsons.
After a couple of missed shots Henderson State buried their first three of the game to end the Ranger run and get on the board. White scored five straight for the Rangers hitting a corner three to stretch the lead to 11. Henderson State answered back with an 8-0 run started by a Riddle three point before cutting the deficit to 16-13. Parsons ended their run. Henderson State earned a couple points from the foul line keeping the game within four. Milton finished a layup off a steal by Jason Douglas-Stanley to push the lead to 23-17 at the under eight timeout. Milton then finished two shots at the line for a 29-19 lead with 4:37 left to play in the opening half.
Henderson State used a 10-0 run to tie the game at 29-29 as they hit back to back three pointers to start the run before two layups off steals made it tied. With the score 31-31 a Larry White dunk followed by a Douglas-Stanely three quickly put the Rangers back up five but Henderson State hit a buzzer beater into halftime as the Rangers led 36-33 through the opening half.
Northwestern fouled to start the second half as Henderson State cut the lead down to one before taking the lead at 37-36 their first lead of the game of a Riddle layup. After a couple of traded baskets Brian Free hit a corner three to push the Rangers back in front at 42-41. Henderson State continued their hot start to the second half pushing a Reddies lead to 48-42 with 15:12 left in the game. Their lead grew to nine for the first time at 58-49 before a Free three pointer ended their run and brought the Rangers back within six.
The Reddies lead grew back to nine three different times to the 6:47 mark in the second half before a Marquise Milton three pointer brought it back to six at 67-61. Parsons continued to cut into the deficit with two foul shots.A Milton foul shot cut the deficit to 74-72 with 1:44 left to play. Miles put Henderson State back up two with 44 seconds left.
Parsons hit a foul shot to tie the game at 76-76. The Ranger defense came up with a stop to force the game into overtime.
In overtime Parsons knocked down the first shot being a layup to make it 79-76. Henderson State tied the game 81-81. Northwestern regained the lead on some foul shots to 83-81. White finished a layup for an 85-81 lead. Northwestern took an 88-83 lead. Henderson State tied the game at 89-89. Henderson State took the lead with eight seconds left on two foul shots for a 91-89 lead over the Rangers. The Reddies closed out the win 91-88 over the Rangers.
The Rangers will host rival Southwestern Oklahoma State on Monday evening with a 7:30 PM tip-off following the conclusion of the Lady Rangers game.
