ALVA, Okla  - The Northwestern Oklahoma State men's basketball team dropped their final home game of the season to Oklahoma Baptist 71-59 on Thursday night. 

The Rangers jumped out to an early lead after the Bison scored the first basket of the game, and led at the first media timeout. Northwestern found themselves down by as many as seven before rattling off five straight points to cut the deficit to two points with just over eight minutes left in the first half. The Rangers took the lead again with just over five minutes left in the half, that started a back and forth with both teams trading the lead up to the final media timeout of the half. The Rangers trailed by just three at the halftime break 29-26.

The Rangers got it going early in the second half as Keyondre Young hit a three on the opening possession to tie the game at 29. The two sides traded baskets throughout the early going of the second half, until Northwestern was able to pull away briefly going up 42-35 just before the 12 minute media timeout. The Ranger lead was short lived as it turned into a back and forth affair once again at the under eight media stoppage. Northwestern tied the game at 48 coming out of the media, however Oklahoma Baptist went on a 7-0 run to take the lead 55-48. Northwestern continued to battle late in the game but could not overcome the double digit deficit.  

Northwestern will be back in action on Saturday, February 28 as they travel to Bethany, Oklahoma to take on Southern Nazarene at 3 p.m. to wrap up the regular season. 

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