BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK CARRIES RANGERS INTO #theGAC SEMIFINALS
Courtesy RideRangersRide.com
SHAWNEE, Okla. - Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball closed out an opening round victory in the quarterfinals with an 82-74 final score over the Bulldogs. The Rangers jumped out to an 11-2 lead for a quick start before controlling the game leading the whole way.
The Rangers improved to 17-12 overall by winning theier first tournament game since the 2017-2018 season.
Northwestern's balanced scoring helped lead to the victory. The Rangers had five scorers in double figures led by 17 points from Marquise Milton, Kennedy Milton adding 15, Larry White with 13, Brian Free had 11 and Camron McDowell with 10. The 13 points for White pushes him past the 1,000 point mark here at Northwestern.
After a scoreless opening minute into the game McDowell ended the scoring drought with a layup off block on the defensive end from Kennedy Milton leading to the points after a rebound from Kabeya Tshibangu. The Rangers opened the game on an 11-2 run getting the job on the defensive end of the floor after the block adding two steals including one from Kennedy Milton leading to a fast break slam by Larry White.
The Rangers extended the lead to double digits at the 15:36 mark for the first time of the game at 12-2 leading into the media timeout. Out of the break Southwestern Oklahoma State was able to cut into the Ranger lead bringing it back to one possession with 12:22 left to play in the half after a shot by Eli Al-Debaran. The lead was brought down to one before McDowell scored four straight to keep the Rangers in the lead.
A Brian Free three pointer brought the lead back to six at 23-17 as Northwestern continued to hold the lead. The Rangers brought the lead back to 10 after five straight from Marquise Milton, and a three pointer from Justin Norris his first of the game.
Ben Smith of Southwestern knocked down four straight but Shavaul Butters finished a layup assisted by McDowell finding him down low. The Rangers would carry a seven point lead into halftime at 42-35 after Justin Norris drilled a three pointer out on the break.
Larry White opened the second half for the Rangers hitting a three pointer but Southwestern held the Rangers to that one shot for the first five minutes of the half before Chance Love ended the scoring drought and pushed the lead back to four after Southwestern cut the lead down to two. Northwestern continued to push away as Southwestern tried to answer back each time. Free's three pointer pushed the lead back to eight.
Southwestern hit a three pointer from Burchfield to bring it back down to one possession at 56-53, and again at 59-57. A minute later Larry White took advantage of a steal from Marquise Milton getting out on the break and throwing a hard jam to swing the momentum on the Rangers side. The Rangers widened the gap back to seven at 67-60.
The Rangers lead reached double digits in the final minute as Kennedy Milton hit four straight foul shots to push the lead to 81-70. Northwestern closed out the eight point victory 82-74 as the final buzzer sounded to move onto the semifinals on Saturday.
Northwestern will be back in action on Saturday afternoon with a 2:15 tip-off scheduled against Arkansas Tech, the number two seed in the conference tournament.