SEARCY, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State completed their trip to Arkansas this afternoon with their matchup with the Bisons. Harding used a strong first half to take control early 47-30 before holding on in the second half for a 83-75 victory over the Rangers.

Rangers drop the Saturday afternoon game falling to 8-8 on the season with a 6-4 conference record. Rangers were led in scoring by Kennedy Milton, Larry White, and Marquise Milton each with 13 points in the game. White led the team with nine rebounds and two assists.

Harding was the first to strike with a jump shot by Sam Smith for two early points. Marquise Milton got the scoring started for the Rangers scoring the first six points of the game for Northwestern as the Rangers jumped out to a 6-4 lead.

The Ranger defense forced three straight misses from the Bisons as Northwestern went out on the break as Chance Love got to the foul line. As the Rangers led 7-4 at the first media timeout Brahm Harris evened the school knocking down a three pointer after Shavaul Butters completed a putback layup. McBride hit the next three pointer for a 14-11 lead, eventually completing a 9-0 run to take a 17-11 lead after three straight foul shots hit by Rylie Marshall.

White ended the run after finishing home a fast break dunk led by a Kennedy Milton steal. The Bisons though continued to extend their lead as McBride drew a foul, knocking down three straight foul shots taking their first double digit lead of the game at 25-13. Kabeya Tshibangu scored four straight for the Rangers with a putback layup before a fast break dunk. As Northwestern trailed by 13 points Larry White finished a put back slam for the Rangers cutting the deficit to 11 helping the Rangers continue to cut into the deficit forcing Harding into a timeout.

Northwestern's run continued through out of the timeout as a steal by White into a fastbreak dunk led to a Kennedy Milton layup as well as the Harding lead was cut to six with 4:21 left in the first half. Harding held their 10 point lead into the final two minutes of the half as Marshall answered with a driving layup. Harding closed the half on an 11-2 run to extend their lead at the halftime break. 

Second half Harding drilled a three at the top of the key for a 20 point lead, their largest of the game at 50-30. Northwestern answered back quickly with a 7-0 run in just over a minute's time. Started by a Kennedy Milton pull up jump shot led to four straight scores by Larry White as the deficit was cut to 13.

As Northwestern continued to cut into the deficit the Rangers were within eight at the 12:25 mark of the second half. Harding though continued to answer back pushing their lead back to 13 at 63-50 off a jump shot by Rylie Marshall. Harding got their lead back to 16 before the Rangers were able to answer back as the Rangers trailed by 10 at 71-61 with 5:05 left in the game Kennedy Milton hit a three pointer from the corner assisted by Larry White was followed by a Marquise Milton layup as Northwestern had been within five at 71-66.

The two teams traded a couple of baskets as a Cam McDowell layup kept Northwestern down five points but Harding widened the gap once more before closing out the 83-75 victory over the Rangers after a couple of foul shots to end the Rangers five game win streak.

Northwestern will have their third straight road game on Thursday against Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford before the Hall of Fame game on Saturday afternoon against East Central.