SEARCY, ARKANSAS - The Rangers were on the road in Searcy, Arkansas Thursday evening against Harding. The Bisons held on for the 63-58 victory over the Rangers snapping Northwestern's four-game win streak. With the loss, the Bisons swept the season series over the Rangers.
The loss drops Northwestern to 10-9 on the season with a 7-6 conference record, while Harding improves to 12-7 on the year with a 8-5 conference record.
Northwestern was led by Max Alexander with 21 points, one of two double-figure scorers joined by Camron Mcodowell with 16 points. Kabeya Tshibangu led the team with six rebounds. Alexander finished with a team-high five assists.
Harding took the first lead of the game with a three-pointer early on in the opening seconds of the game. Tshibangu started the scoring for the Rangers with a slam dunk for two of his six points of the game. After Harding took a 6-2 lead the game saw a scoring drought over the next two minutes before the Bisons hit a three-pointer going in front 9-2.
Max Alexander ended their scoring run with a layup before creating a steal leading to a fast-break layup scoring four straight to his 21 in the game. Harding took advantage early from the three-point line, hitting their fourth three of the half for the 16-8 lead with 12:11 left in the half. The home team hit their largest lead of the half off a Sam Smith layup for the 21-10 lead over the Rangers.
Justin Norris hit his first three-pointer of the game with 7:30 left in the opening half cutting the deficit back down to six. Harding pushed their lead back to nine points at 26-17 before the Ranger went on an 8-1 run to close out the half. Alexander scored six of the points while Dirin Birhiray added two helping the Ranger cut into the deficit at the break trailing by two.
Out of the halftime break, it was Harding striking first with five straight points as Smithson hit a three-pointer and layup for the 32-25 lead. Jackson Feely hit the Rangers' first three-pointer of the half at the 17:10 mark to keep the Rangers within four. This time it was Sam Smith for Harding who pushed their lead back out to eight at 38-30.
As the Rangers went back down 11 at 43-32, Max Alexander scored six straight for the Rangers followed by a McDowell layup assisted by Logan Phillips as the Rangers were back within four with 13:17 left in the game. McDowell put the Rangers back within two halfway through the second half but Josh Denton of Harding hit a three keeping the Bisons lead.
With three minutes remaining, Harding stretched their lead back to seven at 58-51 before a quick 5-0 run after a Justin Norris three-pointer put the Rangers back within one possession. After Harding went back up three McDowell slammed a dunk down but Harding closed out the 63-58 win over the Rangers Thursday evening snapping the Rangers four game win streak.
Northwestern will be back in action on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas Tech in Russellville. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM at Arkansas Tech.
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