MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State basketball was in action on the road Friday evening against Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders jumped out to a 12-1 lead before leading for the majority of the game and closing out the 79-65 victory over the Rangers.

Northwestern Oklahoma State falls to 12-13 on the season with a 9-10 conference record. 

The Rangers were led by Camron McDowell with 25 points and eight rebounds in the game. Kabeya Tshibangu had eight rebounds to also lead the Rangers. Max Alexander finished with a team high nine assists in the game. 

Southern Arkansas opened the game with the first four points of the game on back to back points in the paint after an opening dunk for the 4-0 lead. McDowell got the Rangers on the board with a point,but the team's first basket was at the 16:27 mark. Southern Arkansas opened the game on a 12-1 run after picking up a couple steals and forcing the Rangers into multiple turnover overs. The Muleriders continued to hold the double digit lead at 17-7 before the Rangers got closer. McDowell scored six straight to bring the Rangers back within four points at 17-13 but a three pointer by the Muleriders Igiede had the home team's lead back at seven. 

The Muleriders answered the Rangers' run by scoring seven straight to answer, pushing their lead back to 11 over the Rangers at 26-15 following a dunk and a layup in the first half, as Caldwell was up to 10 points. Southern Arkansas continued to maintain their lead as off a Ranger turnover Southern Arkansas had the fast break dunk for the 30-19 lead over the Rangers.

Southern Arkansas stretched their lead to as many as 16 points with 3:44 left in the first half at 37-21 before the Rangers closed the half strong. The run was started by a Liam Canty layup off an Alexander rebound and an assist. This led to eight straight points by Justin Norris including two straight three pointers as the Rangers were within eight at 39-31. DaRaun Clark in the closing seconds of the first half drilled a three pointer as the Rangers closed the half on a 13-2 run as the Rangers trailed by five points at the break 39-34, led by 13 points and 6 rebounds by Camron McDowell. 

McDowell continued his run into the second half hitting a three pointer to start the half as the Rangers were back within two points at 39-37. McDowell scored the Rangers first eight points of the half as Northwestern stole the lead at 43-42 after opening the half on a 9-3 run. The teams battled back and forth as the Muleriders held a one point advantage with 13:01 to play after a Kenyon Holcombe layup assisted by McDowell. 

Southern Arkansas went up by six before DaRaun Clark hit his second three pointer as the Rangers were back down three points. Southern Arkansas answered with an 8-0 run to take their lead back to 11 at 68-57 over the Rangers. Clark and Canty hit back to back shots but Southern Arkansas answered with seven straight as their lead was up to 77-62, their largest of the second half. Southern Arkansas closed out the 79-65 win over the Rangers. 

Northwestern will be back in action on Sunday afternoon against Arkansas-Monticello with tip-off scheduled for 3:00 PM against the Weevils in Monticello, Arkansas.