ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball fell to Harding Saturday afternoon. The Bison used a 10-2 late run in the opening half to take a double digit halftime lead over the Rangers.

Northwestern drops to 4-4 on the season with a 1-1 Great American Conference record as Harding improves to 1-1 on the season in conference.

Max Alexander finished with a team high 22 points and seven assists in the game joined by DaRaun Clark with 19 points who went over the 1,000 point mark in his collegiate career. Justin Norris was the third double figure scorer for the Rangers. Norris and Kabeya Tshibangu finished with game highs of eight rebounds. 

Sam Smith of Harding opened the scoring for the Bison with a layup for the early 2-0 lead, Tshibangu was the first on the board for the Rangers off an offensive rebound. Harding then jumped out to a 10-4 lead over the Rangers before Tshibangue slammed down a dunk to end their run. This started a 6-0 run for the Rangers who on a Justin Norris tied the game at 10-10 with 14:27 left in the opening half. 

Camron McDowell hit a three pointer before Harding used a 9-0 run to take a nine point lead over the Rangers at 22-13 halfway through the opening half of the game. Back to back three pointers hit for the Rangers by Clark and Norris brought the Rangers back within one point at 22-21. Harding continued to answer each Rangers run. With the Rangers then trailing 27-23 Norris and Clark hit back to back three pointers again this time to give the Rangers the lead at 29-27. The game was later then tied at 32-32 following a couple of Alexander points before Kyler Penco drilled a three pointer for a 35-32 lead. 

Harding used a 9-0 run to take a 42-35 lead over the Rangers with 3:21 left in the opening half hitting three straight three pointers and holding the Rangers scoreless. Harding then extended the lead to 11 right before halftime on a three pointer by Smithson for a 51-40 lead over the Rangers. 

To open the second half Clark and Norris both hit three pointers as the Rangers got back within five points quickly to start the second half at 53-48 not even four minutes into the half. Wesley Booker of Harding answered though, getting the Harding lead back to nine at 57-48, and eventually 62-52 back in double digits.

Northwestern again answered by getting the deficit back down to five but a couple of Harding three pointers stretched the lead back to 10 points at 68-58 and later their largest lead at the time 14 at 81-67. 

A layup from Stetson Smithson stretched their lead to the largest at the time of 88-68 for the twenty point lead with two minutes remaining in the game. Harding closed out the 91-70 victory over the Rangers on Saturday afternoon. 

Northwestern returns to play on Thursday December 12th against Southern Nazarene with a 7:30 tip-off following the conclusion of the Lady Rangers game.
 

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