ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball team closed out a 77-72 victory over Southern Arkansas.The Rangers used an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 14 and never let go of the lead from there before closing out the 77-72 victory and the season sweep over Southern Arkansas.
The second straight win for the Rangers moved the team to 10-9 on the season with an 8-5 GAC record following the win.
The Rangers had four double figure scorers in the win led by Brian Free with 29 points hitting four three pointers. He was joined by Justin Norris, and Chance Love with 13 points each and Lary White with 10 points. White led the team with five assists and Love led with eight rebounds
Justin Norris started the game drilling a three pointer in the opening seconds from tip-off as Free assisted on the shot for an early 3-0 lead. Fee and Tshibangu teamed up the next offensive possession as Tshibangu slammed one home assisted by Free, before Free hit a three pointer for an 8-3 lead. The game was tied at 10-10 before Southern Arkansas took their first lead of the game following a Jaren Harris three pointer but Norris answered with a three point play drawing the foul and making all three foul shots. After Chance Love scored four straight points extending the Ranger run to 9-0 and taking a 19-13 lead.
After a Mulerider basket the Rangers answered back though with another run this one being 7-0 opening their first double digit lead of the game at 28-18 and a 10 point lead following a Brian Free three pointer. The run continued to extend on back to back layups from White for an 11-0 run in total and a 14 point lead. Southern Arkansas answered back though, trying to get back in the game with seven straight points and cutting their deficit to seven at 37-30 with 4:32 left in the opening half.
The two teams traded points as Darun Clark slammed one home off a pass from Kabeya Tshibangu for a 43-37 lead but Southern Arkansas hit a shot in the final minute of the first half as the Rangers took a 43-39 lead into halftime.
Southern Arkansas continued to switch the momentum as they battled back to tie the game at 43-43 in the opening minutes of the second half as the Rangers were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the half before Brian Free silenced that scoring drought with a jump shot to regain the lead at 45-43. Northwestern briefly trailed at 46-45 before Free hit three foul shots after drawing the foul to take the lead for good. Free forced a steal leading to a fastbreak layup and a four point lead creating small separation.
Points by Tshibangu and Jabiri Smith extended it to five before the Rangers forced their second straight turnover leading to a Chance Love three pointer assisted by Larry White for an eight point lead.Northwestern was able to stretch the lead back to double digits at the 6:35 mark left in the game following five straight scored by Brian Free off a Mulerider turnover then a Love block leading to the Ranger points. It was an 8-0 run that opened the 14 point lead over the Muleriders.
The visitors slowly chipped into the Ranger lead bringing the Ranger lead down to six with 52 seconds left. Southern Arkansas was able to get as close as one before the Rangers were able to seal the victory at the foul line. Northwestern hit five foul shots in the final 20 seconds to seal the win from Brian Free, Justin Norris, and Larry White.
The win is the second straight for the Rangers leading into Saturday's matchup against Arkansas Monticello with tip-off around 3:00 PM following the Lady Rangers game.
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