Tweet #theGAC  BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Southern Arkansas, 76-71, in Thursday’s opening Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championships match. The win represented the first postseason victory for any Ranger program since they moved up to Division II.
 
A’Keem Oglesby led four Rangers (22-6) in double figures with 16 points. Brandon Green and Cody Halvorson each scored 14 points and Greg Minor added 12. Green scored 12 of his 14 in the second half and added a game-high nine assists. Halvorson went 4-of-9 from the 3-point arc.
 
After Northwestern Oklahoma State controlled much of the first half, SAU (15-14) scored the final nine points and took its first lead on opening basket of the second half. The two exchanged the lead six times over the first eight minutes before the Rangers opened up a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining. Their advantage expanded to as many as 11 and the Muleriders never drew closer the five points the rest of the way.
 
C.J. Elkins led the Muleriders with 16 points. DeVante Brooks added 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds. SAU outrebounded Northwestern Oklahoma State 37-31.
 
The Rangers earn an off day on Friday. They will face the winner of the East Central and Arkansas-Monticello contest at 2:15 PM on Saturday. During the regular season, the Rangers swept both contests against both the Tigers and Weevils.