ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Rangers are set to host Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon as the Muleriders are in town. Northwestern (7-8, 4-5 GAC) will play the second of three straight home games. Northwestern beat Arkansas Monticello Weevils Thursday evening.
This will be the 25th meeting in the series with Northwestern leading the history with a 14-10 overall record. The Rangers have won the last two games after sweeping the season series last season. Overall the series is tied at 5-5, and the Rangers are 7-4 in Alva against Southern Arkansas.
Rangers look to make it two straight wins following the win against Arkansas Monticello at home on Thursday. Camron McDowell led the Rangers with 37 points in the win scoring 30+ for the fifth time this season. He was one of two double figure scorers joined by Max Alexander scoring 15 points in the game. Kabeya Tshibangu finished with three steals and two blocks leading the defense.
McDowell has scored double digits in six straight games and 11 of 13 games on the year. He has scored a team high of 25.5 points per game for fourth in all of Division II and first in the conference. Alexander has scored double digits in eight straight games and 14 of 15 games this season for 23.1 points per game for third in the conference this season and 11th in DII. Alexander leads the team in assists with 4.3 per game for fifth in the conference.
Alexander is the team leader in steals with 26 on the season. Kabeya Tshibangu is the team leader with 6.5 rebounds per game with a team high in 14 blocks and 15 steals on the season. Alexander and McDowell both top 10 in steals in the conference, with Tshibangu's block numbers are sixth in the league.
The Rangers are seventh in the nation in free throw percentage and second in the conference at 80.3% on the season. Northwestern is second in the league in turnovers forced per game and second in steals per game.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS:
Southern Arkansas comes in Saturday with a 6-9 record overall and a 3-6 conference record this season. The Muleriders are 2-4 on the road this year winning their last game against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday.
In the win over the Bulldogs the Muleriders were led by Carel Ray Jr. with 16 points one of three Southern Arkansas players in double figures as Rashad Bishop and Anthony Igiede each had 12 points.
Southern Arkansas has four players averaging double figures starting with BJ Davis at 12.3 points per game, followed by Carel Ray Jr. at 11.6 and lastly Anthony Igiede, Rashad Bishop just over 10 points in a balanced attack. Davis is the team leader in assists at 39 closely in front of Nevi Tell at 37.
Igiede leads the defense with 24 steals and 13 blocks on the season both the team highs for the season closely followed by Rashad Bishop at 11 steals and 10 blocks. Christian Caldwell is the team leading rebounder at 5.6 per game.
Southern Arkansas is first in the conference offensive rebounding at 12.87 per game, and first in the conference in blocks per game at 3.1 as a team.
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