ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball faced Henderson State on Thursday evening. Northwestern after trailing 11-9, the Rangers used an 11-2 run to take a seven-point lead that the Rangers never lost the rest of the way. Rangers controlled the game leading by as many as 17 points before closing out the nine-point victory.

Northwestern improves to 12-9 on the season with a 9-6 conference record, as Henderson State falls to 13-8 on the year with a 9-6 conference mark. 

Rangers led in scoring by Camron McDowell with a game-high 38 points, one of three double-figure scorers for the Rangers. Max Alexander had 21 points in the win, with DaRaun Clark adding 13 points. Alexander had a team-high seven assists, with Justin Norris having a team-high nine rebounds. Norris also added four steals and a block. 

Kabeya Tshibangu opened the scoring with an offensive rebound put-back layup for the early 2-0 lead. Henderson State struck for the next seven points before a Camron McDowell three-pointer ended their run. DaRaun Clark finished off a slam dunk assisted by Alexander on the fast-break off a Clark steal tied the game at 9-9. Henderson State took the 11-9 lead at the media timeout before the Rangers changed the game. 

Kenyon Holcombe drilled a three-pointer to start the 11-2 run as the Rangers were 3-3 from behind the arc on the run as McDowell hit the other two three-pointers. The Rangers forced two turnovers on the run. McDowell then went on his own 10-0 run going perfect 3-3 from the floor hitting a three-pointer and drawing a three-point play. Rangers forced another two turnovers and held the Reddies scoreless over those two minutes. After the 10-0 run the Rangers led 32-17 over the visitors with just under seven minutes left in the half.

Rangers continued to extend the lead following a DaRaun Clark three-pointer followed by a three-point play from Justin Norris as the Rangers led 42-25. Over the last three minutes of the half, the Reddies went on an 8-2 run to cut the Ranger lead down to 11 at the halftime break. Northwestern led 46-35 after the first 20 minutes.

Alexander opened the scoring but the Reddies countered early in the half. Henderson State's strongest run was a two-minute stretch early in the second half going on a 10-0 run led by Rondae Hill to cut the Ranger lead down to three at 50-47. Justin Norris helped end their run after his fourth steal of the game turning it into a fast-break dunk giving the Rangers the momentum back.

McDowell then picked up a steal to a fast break dunk to push the Rangers lead back to nine points at 63-54. The game then had a two-minute scoring drought before McDowell put the Rangers back up by 10 at 67-57 following a layup for his 31st point. 

After the Ranger lead got back to nine, Northwestern quickly pushed the lead back to 14 at 75-61 following a Clark dunk, off an Alexander assist. Northwestern continued to answer any Henderson State run as the Rangers continued to keep the double-digit lead after an Alexander two points. The Rangers closed out the 90-81 victory over Henderson State on Thursday evening. 

The Rangers will return to play on Saturday afternoon for the annual Hall of Fame game this year against Ouachita Baptist on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 3:00 PM.

For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Athletics, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.