RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State opened their final road trip of the season with three straight games. The Rangers fell short 88-79 to Arkansas Tech. The Wonder Boys used a 15-2 run in the first half to open their largest lead to that point in the game before eventually leading by 19 points and never trailing since the halfway mark of the first.

Arkansas Tech jumped on the board first as Peter closed out a layup before Free knocked down a  three pointer to give the Rangers their first lead of the game. After two foul shots by Love and a dunk by Parsons Northwestern led 9-6. The Wonder Boys answered with a three pointer from Johnson for a 9-9 game. 

The game was tied at 11-11 with 14:28 remaining in the first half before a three pointer by Shaffer pushed Arkansas Tech in front 14-13 out of the timeout. Northwestern answered back taking a 19-14 lead over Arkansas Tech following a three pointer by Brian Free. Arkansas Tech answered back though with eight straight points taking a 22-19 lead. The run would be pushed to 15-2 as Arkansas Tech opened an eight point lead at 29-21 with 9:26 in the half left to go. 

The Wonder Boys controlled the game from that point on holding the lead the rest of the way. They pushed the lead to double digits at 35-23 after knocking down a three pointer with 7:11 to play in the half. Arkansas Tech took advantage of Northwestern turnovers in the first half forcing 10 of them as at the 5:54 mark they forced a turnover opening a 14 point lead following a fastbreak dunk by BJ Johnson. 

Free tried to answer back making a layup getting to the rim off a crossover for two of his season high 27 points. Arkansas Tech continued to have the answer though taking a 44-28 lead. Chance Love completed a three point play hitting a jump shot before completing the on foul shot attempt cutting the deficit back to 11 points. Eric Hancik then finished a second chance opportunity with a layup off a forced turnover. 

Arkansas Tech stretched the lead back to 13 but Marquise Milton finished a layup to send the game into halftime with the Rangers trailing 46-35 at the break. 

Arkansas Tech opened the second half where they ended the first starting on the defensive side of the floor turning into offense as they forced three straight Ranger turnovers capitalizing on all three with two dunks and layups opening a 15 point lead over the Rangers. Arkansas Tech opened their largest lead at 19 points before Northwestern cut into the deficit with 9:45 remaining in the game. 

Free hit two three followed by a White layup off a forced turnover before Free knocked down another three and quickly had the Rangers back within nine points. After Arkansas Tech pushed it back to double digits for a couple of possessions Northwestern continued to climb back as  Free layup had the Rangers back within six, the closest since the first half. The Rangers trailed by seven at the under four media timeout. 

The six points was a close as the Rangers were able to get as Arkansas Tech answered back pushing the lead to 11 points at 85-74 before closing out a nine point victory over the Rangers. 

Northwestern will be back in action on Saturday afternoon against Harding University in Searcy Arkansas.