ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State basketball returned home snapping a two game losing streak with a 75-70 victory over Ouachita Baptist. With the Rangers trailing 51-46 close to halfway through the second half the Red-and-Black responded with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 57-53 lead over the Tigers. The Rangers did not trail the rest of the way.
The win puts the Rangers back at .500 with a 10-10 record and a 6-10 conference record this season.
Northwestern had five different double digit scorers led by Malik Parsons with 27 on the evening on 10-14 shooting from the field. Jason Douglas-Stanley and Larry White each had 12 points in the win.
The Tigers came out of the gate fast Thursday evening knocking down back-to-back three pointers taking an early 6-0 lead. Larry White put the Rangers on the board a minute into the game with a jump shot as the Rangers trailed 6-2. White scored the first four points for the Rangers. Chance Love and Larry White combined for the first nine points of the game as the Rangers trailed 10-9 through the first four minutes at the under 16 timeout.
After a two minute scoring drought a three pointer by Eric Hancik silenced a quick run by the Tigers putting the Rangers back within one. The game had its first time following a three pointer by Brian Free locking the score at 15-15 with 12:09 to play. The Rangers struggled to get their first lead as the Tigers kept answering each Ranger run. The Tigers opened a five point lead again at 24-19. Northwestern again responded with a couple foul shots before a three pointer by Parsons tied the game at 24-24.
Douglas-Stanley tied the game again at 28-28 this time with 5:16 remaining in the half. The Tigers opened their largest lead of the half with 1:14 remaining at 38-30 before a quick five to nothing run for the Rangers on a three at the buzzer by Parsons had the Rangers trailing 38-35 into halftime. The teams traded baskets to open the second half with the Tigers continuing to hold a slight advantage now at 42-37. The deficit for the Rangers grew to eight at 49-41 for the second time of
the afternoon before a three pointer by Free had the Rangers back in it. After the media timeout the Tigers held a 51-46 lead over Northwestern when the game changed for good.
A dunk by Chance Love sparked an 11-2 run which swung the lead into the Rangers favor for the rest of the game. A layup off an offensive rebound gave Northwestern the lead for the first time of the game and a 55-53 lead. A couple of steals leading to a Parsons layup this time gave the Rangers a 60-55 advantage at the under eight media timeout.
Northwestern continued to slowly grow the lead this time it was a Free three followed by a Dunk by Lary White had the lead at nine 66-57 in favor of the Rangers. Northwestern continued to hold the lead this time into the final minute at 73-68. A few important defensive stops before Parsons sealed the win at the foul line pushing the lead to 75-70 the final score and a win for Northwestern.
The Rangers will be back in action for their second straight home game on Saturday against Henderson State.
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