ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Northwestern Oklahoma State Basketball team closed out a double digit victory over East Central to close out the fall semester before Christmas. The Rangers used an 11-0 run to take the lead over East Central which the team would not lose the rest of the game.
The Rangers improve to 6-5 on the season with a 3-2 conference record this season.
Camron McDowell led the Rangers in scoring with 25 points as one of three players scoring double figures. Max Alexander and Logan Phillips were the other two Rangers in double figures. Alexander finished with 23 points and Phillips with 12. Kabeya Tshibangu led the team with eight rebounds while McDowell led the team with five assists. Phillips had a team high four steals.
The Tigers opened the scoring with a three pointer in the opening minute but McDowell answered back assisted by Alexander for a 3-3 tie game. East Central then opened a four point lead at 9-5 with 16:07 left in the half when the Rangers changed the game. Started by a DaRaun Clark three pointer which was the start of an 11-0 run.Clark then picked up a steal leading to a McDowell layup for the 10-9 lead the Rangers first of the game finishing off the three point play. The lead grew to seven at 16-9 following a PHillips dunk assisted by Norris as the 11-0 run gave the Rangers the lead in which the team would not lose the rest of the way.
East Central ended the run at the 12:02 mark following a four minute scoring drought. The Rangers pushed the lead to double digits following a Liam Canty put back layout off his own offensive rebound giving the Rangers a 25-15 lead. McDowell kept the double digit lead at the 5:27 mark of the half leading 29-19.
Logan Phillips gave the Rangers their largest lead of the half at 35-22 following a slam dunk, his seventh point of the half. East Central had the final points of the half from Nikk Williams for two of his three points as the Rangers carried a 35-24 lead into the break over the Tigers.
East Central was the first to score but McDowell hit a three pointer for the Rangers first points of the half and his 20th already in the game. In the first six minutes of the half the Rangers were able to continue to grow the lead as the Rangers pushed the score to 50-30 for the 20 point lead. Phillips buried a three pointer while Alexander led the team with six points on the run at the 14:22 mark.
The largest lead for the Rangers was on a three pointer by Justin Norris leading by 23 points. A Tigers 9-0 run was the best of the night pushing the Rangers lead down to 11 at 61-50. Alexander drilled a three pointer to end the run with a 64-50 lead. East Central closed the gap to as many as eight points but Alexander again ended the East Central run as the Rangers were able to close out the double digit victory.
Northwestern won the game at 77-67 following the Tigers final shot at 11 seconds. The Rangers close the 2024 year with back to back victories.
The Rangers open the 2025 calendar year with three straight road games starting with Oklahoma Baptist on January 4th in Shawnee. Northwestern's first home game will be on January 16th.
