ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS - The Rangers fell to Ouachita Baptist on Thursday afternoon after the Tigers opened a double digit lead in the first half and led by 13 at the break before closing out the 81-70 lead over the Rangers.

Northwestern Oklahoma State falls to 6-7 on the season while dropping to 3-4 in conference while Ouachita Baptist improved to 4-3 on the season.

The Rangers were led by Max Alexander with 33 points finishing 13-17 from the floor including a team high seven rebounds. Camron McDowell was second on the team with 23 points, the other double figure scorer while leading the team with four assists.

The Tigers were first to score after winning the opening tip-off leading to two points from their leading scorer Hobert Grayson. Kabeya Tshibangu led the scoring for Northwestern with a dunk on a two handed slam assisted by Alexander. McDowell gave the Rangers their first lead of the game on a three pointer at 7-4 with 16:22 in the half. The Tigers tied the game at 9-9 before starting their run a few moments later. A 6-0 run after a foul shot had the Tigers in the lead at 18-11 after a layup and a three pointer. Williams for the Tigers kept them in front with a step back jump shot.

Alexander scored four straight for the Rangers trying to continue to dive back into the deficit bringing the Rangers back within six at 27-21, before McDowell followed with a layup for a 27-23 trailing. The Tigers then right before the final half media timeout hit three straight three pointers pushing the Tigers lead to 11, their first double digit lead of the game for a 36-25 lead over the Rangers. The Tigers held the 11 point lead until the final minute with Hobert Grayson making a layup for his 13th point of the half and a 13 point halftime lead at 40-27.

Out of halftime Shaun Williams hit a three pointer to push the deficit to the largest of the game at 43-27. Alexander after scoring eight in the first half went for 25 in the second half starting with four straight on back to back possessions after forcing a turnover. The Tigers answered back with seven straight to push the lead to 17 for the home team.

Ouachita Baptist continued to hold the double digit lead at 17 following a 54-37 lead with 14:03 left in the game. Northwestern pushed the deficit down to 10 after points from Dirin Birhiray and Camron McDowell at 64-54. Max Alexander is the one that brought it back under 10 with a floater to cut the deficit down to 68-59 drawing the foul and a three point play for 68-60 score.

The deficit got down to nine one other time on a three pointer from Alexander at 73-64 but the Tigers answered with five straight points. McDowell stole the ball on the final possession before finishing the fast break layup as the Rangers dropped the game 81-70.

Northwestern is back in action on Saturday afternoon against Henderson State with tip-off scheduled for 3:00 PM in Arkadelphia. 

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