FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball starts the Great American Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon. The tip-off is scheduled for 2:15 PM in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the Southside Arena.

The Rangers' No. 7 seed (14-14, 11-11)  will face the Ouachita Baptist Tigers No. 2 (21-7, 16-6) for a third time this season on Thursday. In series history, the Tigers lead 14-10, including two wins this season. Northwestern is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings, and this will be the first on a neutral floor. 

In the first two meetings, the Rangers were led by Cam McDowell, who averaged 31 points in those two meetings, as Max Alexander scored 23 per game against the Tigers. For the Tigers, Hobert Grayson is the team leader at 23.5 points per game in the two games against the Rangers. The first-round matchup features the conference top four scorers in the league in Camron McDowell, Hobert Grayson, Max Alexander, and Shaun Williams. 

Overall, for the Rangers, Camron McDowell leads the team with 27.3 points per game, first in the conference and second in all of Division II. Max Alexander is second on the team with 20.4 points per game and third in the conference. Alexander is the team leader in assists with 126 on the season with 4.5 per game. McDowell is first in three-pointers per game at three. Kabeya Tshibangu is third in the conference in offensive rebounds at 2.48 per game.

Defensively for the Rangers, Northwestern is led by McDowell with 50 steals on the season for fourth in the conference with Alexander fifth at 47 and DaRaun Clark sixth with 46. Tshibangu is sixth in the conference in blocks with 25 on the season, and the team leading rebounder with 6.6 per game for seventh in the conference. 

As a team, the Rangers are first in the conference in turnovers forced per game at 15.50 and third in turnover margin. Northwestern leads the conference in free throws made per game and is second in the conference in free throw percentage. 

OUACHITA BAPTIST:
The Tigers (21-7, 16-6) enter as the No.2 seed in the conference tournament. Ouachita Baptist enters play on a seven-game win streak dating back to February 8th. 

Last time out, the Tigers picked up a win against Arkansas-Monticello with an 85-56 victory behind 22 points from Shaun Williams and 21 points from Hobert Grayson, who also brought down 13 rebounds. 

On the season, Ouachita Baptist is led by Hobert Grayson, finishing the year with 22.4 points per game along with 11.4 rebounds, averaging a double-double. He is one of three players scoring double figures, joined by Shaun Williams at 18.7 points per game and Reggie Martin at 12.5. Williams leads the team in assists with 85 on the year. Williams is first in the conference in three-point percentage. 

Defensively, Grayson leads the team with 51 steals on the season while adding 10 blocks on the year. Devyn Franklin leads the team in blocked shots with 17 on the year and 20 steals. Grayson leads the team in rebounding at 11.4. 

As a team, the Tigers are first in assist/turnover ratio and scoring offense at 81.7 points per game. Ouachita is first in turnover margin and turnovers per game, only giving the ball up at 10 per game. 

FOLLOW THE GAME: 

stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=584242 

watch: https://youtube.com/@GACAthletics/streams