ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball is set to begin the New Year on the road against Oklahoma Baptist. The Rangers (6-5, 3-2) are in Shawnee facing the Bison (8-3, 5-0) at the Noble Complex with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM following the Lady Rangers game.

The history between the two programs is led by Oklahoma Baptist with a record of 20-10 dating back to 2007. Oklahoma Baptist leads 8-2 in the last 10 games, and 12-3 in Shawnee. The Rangers won the last meeting in Shawnee in February of 2024 with an 81-76 win. 

NORTHWESTERN:

The Rangers enter Saturday with winning the last two games before break with a win at Southeastern Oklahoma State before winning over East Central at home. Overall the Rangers are 1-1 on the road this season. 

In the win against East Central the Rangers were led by Camron McDowell scoring 25 points along with five rebounds and five assists,which followed his 38 performance over Southeastern. McDowell earned conference player of the week for the two games. Max Alexander was the other leading scorer in the game at 23 points, and Logan Phillips was the third player in double figures with 12 points. 

For the season the Rangers have two players averaging double figures in McDowell and Alexander who are both ranked in the top 25 in scoring and top 10 in points per game. McDowell leads with 24.9 points first in the conference and fourth overall in DII. Alexander is at 23.3 10th in DII and third in the conference. Alexander leads the team with 4.9 assists per game which is 36th in DII and second in the conference. 

Defensively the Rangers are led by Kabeya Tshibangu, who is coming off a defensive player of the week award for the conference. He has 10 steals and 11 blocks on the season. McDowell leads the team with 21 steals. Tshibangu is the team leading rebounder at 6.8 per game followed by Justin Norris at 5.5. 

Northwestern is top 25 in Division II in free throw percentage, sitting first in all of Division II at 84.3% per game, leading the conference along with free throws made.

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST:

The Bison come into the game on Saturday with a five game winning streak and perfect 4-0 record at home in Shawnee and six straight dating back to last season. Oklahoma Baptist is coming off a 78-63 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State their last time out in Weatherford.  

The Bison are led in scoring by Terry Coner scoring 16.6 points per game as one of four players averaging double figures in a balanced attack as the next three are all around 10 points per game. Ethan Scott scores 10.9 points, Nathan Wilson at 10.6 points per game and Ricky Brown at 10.5 per game. Coner leads the team with 30 assists. 

Coner leads the team with 21 steals on the season, with Nathan Wilson 16 steals and a team high 19 blocks to lead the team on the defensive side of the floor. Wilson leads the team with 9.1 rebounds per game.

The Bison lead the conference in rebounds per game at 38.7 per game, and first in rebound margin at a positive 6.3 per game. 

STAT OF THE GAME:

The two teams compare coming out of the winter break games, Oklahoma Baptist holds a 3-5 record in conference games in the first GAC game starting the New Year while they are 5-5 overall in the last 10 games including non-GAC games. Northwestern holds a 3-7 record in the first conference game out of break with a 4-6 record overall. This will be both teams first game after the break this season. 

FOLLOW THE GAME:

Stats: https://obubison.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

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