MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State started the 2024 year with a sweep on the opening road Arkansas trip. The Rangers jumped out to a 16-5 lead after forcing five early turnovers before closing out a 84-71 victory over the Muleriders in a game the Rangers never trailed.
Northwestern improves to 5-7 on the season with a 3-3 conference record in the Great American Conference following the victory.
Camron McDowell led the team with 28 points in the win as one of two double figure scorers joined by Larry White with 15 points while adding three steals. Northwestern had 15 steals in the win as three players had three in White, Brian Free, and Kennedy Milton.
The Muleriders got first possession but Larry White forced a turnover for his first steal of the game turning it into a fast-break dunk for the early 2-0 lead. The following possession was the same as this time Marquise Milton forced the turnover for the steal before leading a pass up to Kennedy Milton for the early 4-0 lead. Kennedy Milton finished his second fast break layup following White's second steal.
The Rangers forced five turnovers in the opening five minutes of the game as Northwestern's fast start jumped out to a 16-5 lead following Brian Free's first three pointer of the game right before a timeout. Out of the timeout Southern Arkansas scored seven straight to cut into the Ranger lead bringing it down to four at 16-12 but White's third steal in the early going created two foul shots after drawing the foul on the other end as White ended their scoring run. He scored four straight for the Rangers in that stretch.
At the halfway point following a White jump shot for his eighth point of the afternoon put the Rangers in front 27-20. Southern Arkansas brought it back as close as two points at 27-25 before Marquise Milton drilled a three pointer at the top of the key to end the Muleriders run and put the Rangers back up five, which was followed by a Camron McDowell three pointer as Northwestern went back up 33-27. He scored five straight for Northwestern keeping the six point lead with five minutes remaining.
Southern Arkansas got back within three after a Carel Ray Jr three pointer at 37-34, but White got an offensive rebound put back dunk for his 12th point and a 39-34 lead. Chance Love put the Rangers back up by double digits following a layup for a 44-34 lead with 2:08 left to play in the half. After a Southern Arkansas foul shot Camron McDowell drove for a layup to give the Rangers a double digit lead at 48-38 lead for the Rangers at halftime.
In the second half Kabeya Tshibangu started the second half strong helping the Rangers extend their lead. It started with an offensive rebound finishing the put back layup, followed by his second straight basket on the following possession. McDowell pushed the lead to the largest at that point in the game with his 15th point of the game for a 55-38 lead with 16:08 to play.
Marquise Milton ended a two minute scoring drought between the two teams as he finished off a layup for a 62-44 lead, the largest of the game. Southern Arkansas was able to cut the deficit down to 14 points at 66-52 with 9:21 remaining in the game. Shavaul Butters answered back though for his fifth points of the game following his first steal on the other end for a 68-53 lead.
Brian Free was able to extend the Ranger lead back to 17 points at 73-56 after Brian Free was able to knock down a three pointer at the top of the key with 6:23 remaining in the game. Southern Arkansas kept trying to push it back into single digits and draw closer as Ray brought it back down to a 10 point game at 76-66 but McDowell's layup helped stop their run with a driving layup. After Southern Arkansas brought it to as close as nine McDowell scored the final four points of the game to seal the 84-71 victory as he finished with 28 points in the win.
Following the road sweep for the Rangers, Northwestern will return home for two straight in Percefull Fieldhouse starting with Ouachita Baptist Thursday, and Henderson State on Saturday.
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