ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Northwestern Men's Basketball teams' comeback fell short Saturday afternoon after out-scoring the Tigers 51-43 in the second half. The Tigers used an 8-1 run in the final minute of the game to win over the Rangers.
The Rangers fall to 12-10 on the season with a 9-7 GAC record, while the Tigers improve to 15-7 on the year with a 10-6 conference mark.
Northwestern had three players score double figures in the loss led by Camron McDowell with 39 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Max Alexander had 13 points followed by DaRaun Clark with 10. Clark had three steals in the game. Kabeya Tshibangu led the team with seven rebounds.
Ouachita Baptist opened the game with the first five points of the afternoon before Tshibangu started the scoring for the Rangers off a steal from McDowell leading the break as the Rangers trailed 5-2. The Tigers went up eight points early in the game before McDowell completed a three-point play taking the contact and finishing the play at the line.
The Tigers took their largest lead at that point in the first half at 23-13 hitting double digits for the first time on a three-pointer. Largest it got was 12 points before a 7-0 run by the Rangers capitalized on two straight three pointers from McDowell had the Rangers back within five points. However the Tigers answered with a three of their own to put their lead back to double digits following a steal and a layup.
The visitors largest lead of the half was 14 points before a quick 5-0 run to end the half on a layup from McDowell before a buzzer-beater three-pointer had the Rangers back within single digits at 36-27 at halftime.
The Tigers scored the first basket of the half before the Rangers answered with nine straight points cutting the deficit to 40-38 at the 17:38 mark. After two straight turnovers, the Rangers kept chipping back into the deficit as a Justin Norris three-pointer closed the gap to one point.
The Rangers three-point shooting kept bringing it back to one as this time Clark hit the triple as the Rangers trailed 48-47. THe Rangers then tied the game at 51-51 following two points from Tshibangu.
Ouachita got the lead back to five points at 65-60 before the Rangers used a 13-2 run to reclaim the lead at 73-67. McDowell scored nine straight points on the run taking the lead after the Rangers forced three turnovers. The Rangers built a 77-71 lead before Ouachita Baptist stormed back late in the final minute. The Tigers scored five straight to cut the Ranger lead to one at 77-76. After the teams traded foul shots, and a Rangers turnover, Ouachita Baptist hit a jumper at the elbow to take the game 79-78 over the Rangers.
Northwestern is back in action on Thursday traveling to Weatherford, Oklahoma. The Rangers face Southwestern Oklahoma State with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM.
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