ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball completed a season split with Southwestern Oklahoma State following a 78-72 victory over the Bulldogs Thursday evening. After a back and forth game the Rangers used a 6-0 run after a tied 58-58 game to take a lead the team never lost again before closing out the win over the rival.
Northwestern with the win improves to 13-10 on the season with a 11-6 Great American Conference record.
The Rangers led in scoring by Cam McDowell and Brian Free each with 18 points in the victory over Southwestern in a balanced attack that featured five double figure scorers. Marquise Milton led the team with six assists while adding 12 points. Kabeya Tshibangu and Larry White were the other double figure scorers each with 11 points.
Brian Free opened the scoring a minute and a half into the game with a three pointer off a steal by Tshibangu for a 3-0 lead. The Rangers opened with the first five points of the game before Southwestern stormed back to even the score at 8-8 just under the 14 minute mark on a Jalen Johnson steal and fast break layup.
The teams went back and forth through the first half as after the Rangers regained the lead it was Johnson again this time hitting a three. However their lead was short lived as Shavaul Butters finished a putback layup after keeping the possession alive and sending it in for a 14-13 lead halfway through the first.
Southwestern took their largest lead at 20-14 but Cam McDowell drilled back to back three pointers keeping the Rangers in it by quickly tying the score at 20-20 in two possessions for eight of his 18 points.
The Rangers used a dominating final few minutes of the first half to comeback and send the game into halftime at 37-37. Northwestern trailed 37-30 with 1:46 remaining in the first half when a Tshibangu layup sparked a run. Northwestern's defense then forced back to back turnovers with a steal by Kennedy Milton and Larry White led to Brian Free three pointer for his ninth point of the half. Larry White hit a foul shot to close the half out with the Rangers tied.
Tshibangu hit the first field goal for the Rangers in the second half with a slam dunk a minute into the half. Southwestern's first points of the half came over two minutes into the half as the Rangers led 40-39. After the visitors grabbed a 45-44 lead Northwestern rattled off seven straight points closed out by a Brian Free three pointer pushing the Ranger lead to six at 51-45. Northwestern grabbed their largest lead at the time following a three pointer by McDowell for a 58-50 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Southwestern answered back though with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to even the score at 58-58. Southwestern looked to take the lead but Cam McDowell forced a steal leading to a big time three pointer by Chance Love to end the Southwestern run and push the Rangers back in front at 61-58. Kennedy Milton off a defensive rebound went down on the other end hitting a three pointer for a 64-58. With Northwestern holding a one point lead grabbed an offensive rebound by Larry White before swinging it back out for Brian Free three pointer pushing it to a two possession lead.
Northwestern, leading by three, closed it down on the defensive side holding the Bulldogs scoreless from the two minute mark until the final seconds as Ben Smith hit a final second shot. The Rangers closed the game out at the foul line hitting five foul shots down the stretch to hold the lead and close out the 78-72 lead.
The Rangers will be next on the road against Oklahoma Baptist with a Saturday evening game against the Bison with tip-off set for 7:30 PM in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
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