DURANT, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State traveled to Southeastern for the first road game since the opening weekend of the season. Northwestern used a 9-1 run including eight straight from McDowell to tie the game 72-72 before winning in overtime 84-81.
With the win Northwestern improves to 5-5 on the season with a 2-2 conference record snapping the Ranger two game losing streak. The Rangers are now 1-1 on the road.
Camron McDowell led the way offensively for the Rangers scoring 38 points one of two players in double figures joined by Max Alexander with 23 points. Kabeya Tshibangu finished with a high of 14 rebounds followed by Justin Norris with nine. Alexander led the team with four assists. Tshibangu led the team with three steals.
Andrija Brzovic opened the game scoring after the defense did not allow a basket in the opening minute of the game, before Alexander tied the game with a layup 2-2. Northwestern's defense forced back to back turnovers capitalizing on the second one with a Justin Norris three pointer off a Tshibangu offensive rebound and an assist. Kenyon Holcombe slammed home a dunk to tie the game at 9-9 off an assist by Justin Norris heading into the media timeout.
Southeastern Oklahoma State hit a three pointer from D.J. Dill to take a 14-11 lead over the Rangers. Max Alexander hit back to back layups and a jump shot for six straight points giving the Rangers a 17-14 lead over the Savage Storm. The teams continued to battle and trade back and forth as Alexander pushed the Rangers back in front with his 10th point of the half and a 23-22 lead.
Northwestern, continuing to control the opening half rebound, took advantage of two rebounds from Tshibangu finishing a tip-in layup for the 25-22 lead. Southeastern scored five straight points to tie the score at 27-27 before Logan Phillips scored his first points of the game for a 29-27 lead over the Storm. With the Rangers leading 33-29, Southeastern closed the half with six straight points to steal the lead from the Rangers at halftime for a 35-33 lead over the Rangers. Northwestern had 10 first half rebounds leading to 13 second chance points.
McDowell was the first to score for the Rangers in the second half with two of his 38 points keeping the Rangers within two points. Five straight points from the Rangers finished a layup from Alexander.
Kenyon Holcombe kept the Rangers within two points at the 12:00 minute mark of the half, but back to back three pointers by Condiff and a jump shot by Wilkerson to extend their lead to 57-48 over the Rangers. DaRaun Clark hit a three pointer to end the Storm's run bringing the Rangers back within six.
Southeastern continued to hold a nine point lead over the Rangers following a DJ Dill three pointer with 8:03 left in the game. The Rangers closed the gap around the five minute mark sparking a run as Northwestern trailed 67-63 following points from Max Alexander.
The Savage Storm held an eight point lead 71-63 with 2:33 left in the game. The Rangers trailed 71-64 when McDowell scored eight straight for the Rangers for an 8-1 run as McDowell hit back to back three pointers bringing the Rangers within one before his tip in to tie the game at 72-72 with 30 seconds left.
The Ranger defense forced a stop to send the game into overtime at 72-72. Northwestern scored the first four points of the overtime for a 76-72 lead. The closest Southeastern was able to get was one after a three pointer from DJ Dill. McDowell threw down a dunk after an offensive rebound from Justin Norris to keep the possession. Rangers closed the game at the foul line as two foul shots from McDowell gave the Rangers a 84-81 victory over Southeastern.
Northwestern is back in action on Thursday, December 19th for the final game of the 2024 calendar year against East Central.
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