ALVA, Okla. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State men's basketball team fell just short in a tight battle dropping a close one 71-65 to Southeastern Oklahoma State on Monday in Alva.
Northwestern jumped out to a quick lead, scoring eight unanswered after Southeastern scored the first basket of the game. The Rangers lead was cut down to just two following four unanswered by the Savage Storm. Northwestern pushed the lead up to eight with just over 12 minutes with an 8-2 run, however Southeastern answered back with an 8-0 run of their own to tie things up at 16 midway through the first period of play.
After the twelve minute media timeout the Rangers found their rhythm again going on a 6-2 run to lead the Savage Storm 22-18 with just over seven minutes left in the half. Northwestern continued the momentum using tough defense to extend their lead to 31-20. The Rangers saw their lead shrink to just two, as the Savage Storm went on a run of their own to make it a 35-33 Northwestern lead at the half time intermission.
The Rangers struck first out of the break to push their lead to 45-38 on the heels of a 10-5 run fueled by multiple key defensive stops. Northwestern saw their lead get down to four with just over 15 minutes left at 47-43. The Rangers traded baskets through the next few minutes of the half but found themselves trailing for just the second time in the game as Southeastern took the lead 52-51 with just over 11 minutes to play in the game.
The Rangers continued to battle through the next few minutes of play cutting the Savage Storm lead to four with just under eight minutes to play. Northwestern found themselves down by as many as eight late in the game, but once again battled back to cut the Savage Storm lead to four at 67-63 with just under a minute and a half to play. The Rangers could not regain the lead as they fell the Savage Storm.
Northwestern will return to the hardwood on Thursday, February 19th at 7:30 p.m. when they welcome Southern Arkansas to Percefull Fieldhouse.
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