ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball won their third straight game Thursday evening with a 68-52 victory over the Tigers. Northwestern never trailed in the game after starting with the game's first seven points of the game.
The third straight victory improves Northwestern to 6-7 on the season with a 4-3 conference record.
Northwestern was led by Camron McDowell and Kennedy Milton as the two players hit double figures in scoring McDowell leading the way with 16 and Milton with his season high of 14 while adding three steals defensively.
The matchup started very much with a defensive battle as Northwestern forced four turnovers before allowing a point. After a two and a half minute scoring drought to start the game by both teams Kennedy Milton broke the scoreless streak with a steal setting up his own fast break dunk. On the pursuing position Milton forced another steal, this time setting up a dunk by Kabeya Tshibangu for an early 4-0 lead.
The Rangers led 8-0 with 14:51 left in the half before Ouachita scored their first point of the game both coming from the foul line as the Rangers lead cut to 8-2. The Tigers did not score their first field goal until the 13:21 mark of the half as Northwestern led 10-4. However McDowell answered back right away the next time down the court drilling a three pointer pushing the lead to nine.
A Larry White three pointer kept the game at nine and found double digits for the first time following a block by Larry White leading to a layup by McDowell and a 20-9 lead for the Rangers with 6:38 remaining in the half. The Tigers though quickly answered going on a 9-0 run, cutting their deficit, the Ranger lead back down to two points at 20-18 with 4:11 to play in the half.
McDowell silenced the Tigers though, scoring the next five points and building the lead back to seven. Northwestern held a 28-22 advantage following a Larry White layup in the final minute heading into halftime.
In the second half the Tigers were the first to strike but only cutting the Ranger lead down to three as Kennedy Milton put the Rangers back in front two possessions, scoring six straight for the Rangers eventually growing the lead back to nine at 34-25at the first media timeout of the second half.
The lead grew back to double digit with 12 minutes remaining in the game following a three pointer by Brian Free to give the Rangers a 40-28 lead over the Tigers. Jabiri Smith hit a three at the top of the key as well as he gave Northwestern the largest lead of the day at the time at 43-28, before Marquise Milton hit the Rangers' third straight three pointer.
The largest lead of the game was twenty points at 48-28 after Kennedy Milton hit a jump shot just inside the paint. Northwestern continued to maintain the double digit lead the defense was stifling Thursday evening.
Ouachita Baptist and the Rangers traded baskets as the lead stayed consistently over 10 closest being nine for a quick possession before Free hit a couple of foul shots with three minutes remaining.
The Rangers closed the win out at the foul line hitting eight foul shots in the final two minutes as the Rangers won 68-52 for the third straight.
Northwestern will be back home on Saturday afternoon with a scheduled tip-off of 3:00 PM against Henderson State following the Lady Rangers game.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Athletics, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
