MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS- Northwestern Oklahoma State basketball returned to action Friday afternoon as the Rangers fell to Arkansas Monticello 80-76. Monticello used a 11-2 run to open a 10 point lead after the game was 43-42 before taking a 54-44 lead in which they would never lose.
The loss drops the Rangers to 9-9 on the season and 5-9 in Great American Conference play. Arkansas Monticello moves to 3-11 in the GAC.
Malik Parsons led all scorers finishing the game with 41 points in the afternoon. The 41 points tied the Northwestern record for most points in a single game.
Josh Denton got the scoring started in the game with a layup as him and Cole Anderson put Monticello on front 4-0. Rangers hit four straight foul shots with the first two coming from Larry White putting the Rangers on the board. A three pointer by Jason Douglas-Stanley had the Rangers down two points at 9-7 just over the commercial timeout. The teams traded baskets before the dead ball at 14:53 as the Rangers trailed 13-9 at the first break.
After two Deatrick Pashell foul shots Monticello answered with a quick run bringing their lead back to six but a three by Eric Hancik quickly silenced it bringing Northwestern within one possession. The score remained 17-14 into the second timeout before Northwestern took their first lead at 18-17 on a jump shot by Parsons. The Rangers were able to extend the lead to four following a jump shot by Love followed by a three pointer from Parsons.
Arkansas Monticello answered back with two straight three pointers, retaking the lead at 25-23. The two teams went back and forth as Parsons was able to bring the Rangers within three after a jump shot in the paint brought the score to 36-33. Northwestern went into the break trailing by three with Parsons leading all scoring 17 of his 41 points.
Anderson started the second half with a layup down low pushing their lead back to five. Parsons scored seven straight bringing Northwestern back within one. The Rangers remained trailing by one following a layup at 43-42. The game changed here as Arkansas Monticello scored five straight before scoring 11 of the next 13 points in the game, opening their first double digit lead of the game at 54-44. Monticello had their largest lead at 58-47 as the Rangers called a timeout. Northwestern responded well, cutting the deficit to six with 9:15 left in the game following a Parsons jumper. A Marquise Milton three pointer off the fast break was good as the Rangers were within five.
Larry White finished a layup as the Rangers continued to slowly chip into the deficit having it now down to four at 68-64. Josh Denton continued to answer Ranger runs this time finishing a three pointer to take a 71-64 lead. The teams continued to trade baskets as the lead was now down to 75-71 for Monticello. Milton cut it to three with 1:01 left to play with a three pointer.
He did the same thing with a layup with 27 seconds left. Northwestern almost forced a steal forcing a jump ball with under 10 seconds left as Arkansas Monticello held on for a 80-76 victory over Northwestern.
Northwestern will play the second of a back to back against Southern Arkansas tomorrow afternoon with tip-off set for 5:00 PM.
