ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball team (8-8, 5-5 GAC) looks to win the third straight game on this three-game homestand, against rival Southwestern Oklahoma State (8-7, 5-5) on Thursday evening. Both teams entered 5-5 in conference play tied for fifth place. The theme for the game is a black out against the Bulldogs for the 7:30 tip-off.

This will be the 28th meeting in the series between the two programs as the Rangers lead the history with 15-12 overall in the series matchup dating back to 1998. Northwestern went 2-1 against the Bulldogs a year ago after splitting the regular season the Rangers took the conference playoff matchup in Shawnee 82-74. Rangers are 10-4 in Alva against Southwestern.

Rangers look to continue their two-game win streak after a perfect week against Arkansas Monticello (73-68) before beating Southern Arkansas by a score of 70-51. Kabeya Tshibangu earned GAC defensive player of the week for the second time this season.

In the 70-51 win over the Muleriders the last time out, Camron McDowell finished with a team-high 26 points as one of two double-figure scorers joined by Max Alexander scoring 16 points in the win. Tshibangu had a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks in the win.

The Rangers are led by Camron McDowell and Max Alexander averaging 25.6 points and 22.6 points. McDowell is first in the conference in points per game and third overall in Division II, as Alexander is 3rd in the conference and 14th overall. On top of scoring Alexander leads the team in assists at 4.1 per game which is fifth in the conference per game. Tshibangu is fourth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game with 2.5

Alexander is the team leader in steals with 28 on the season for fourth in the conference. Kabeya Tshibangu is the team leader with 6.6 rebounds per game, fifth in the conference. He has a team-high 16 blocks which is fourth in the conference. Alexander and McDowell are both top 10 in steals in the conference.

The Rangers are seventh in the nation in free throw percentage and second in the conference at 80.5% on the season. Northwestern is second in the league in turnovers forced per game and second in steals per game. 

SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE:

Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs come into the game 8-7 on the season with a 5-5 Great American Conference record. The Bulldogs are 1-4 away from Weatherford this season in road games. 

The Bulldogs entered play on Thursday winning their last time out with a win over Arkansas Monticello snapping a previous three-game losing streak. 

In the win over Arkansas Monticello, Southwestern Oklahoma State was led by four players in double figures led by Denali Alexander with 16 points followed by MJ Warrior and Tobias Roland with 13 points each. Warrior had a team-high five steals. 

Southwestern is led by Tobia Roland with 14.9 points per game good for 12th overall in the conference as one of three players in double figures joined by MJ Warrior at 12.5 and Eli Al-Debaran with 12.3 points per game. MJ Warrior leads the team with 73 assists on the season which is second in the Great American Conference.

The defensive side of the court is led by MJ Warrior with 29 steals on the season which is 1.9 per game for third in the conference in both stats. Tobias Roland leads the team with seven blocks on the year.

Southwestern Oklahoma State is second in the conference in turnovers per game at 10.7. The team is fourth in the conference in free throw percentage and fourth in assist/turnover ratio. 

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