By CONNOR GRAY, Assistant Editor
The Northwestern men’s basketball team is on another hot streak, winning five games in a row.
The Rangers were looking to continue their streak as they came off two solid road wins against Harding and Arkansas Tech.
Their first challenge back at home was Arkansas-Monticello, which had an 8-8 record and gave the Rangers a game for most of it.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, as both teams traded baskets. Northwestern relied on Bubba Furlong to help with scoring as the others struggled to get to the basket.
The second half was different, as Furlong continued to put points on the board. The team shot a little better and distanced itself from Monticello.
Furlong ended the game with 32 points and eight rebounds, shooting 13-16 from the field, 4-5 from the line and eight rebounds.
“Thursday night was crazy, probably my best game in college,” Furlong said. “When I hit the floor that night … it felt like old days when my dad was in the stands, when he was watching me play.”
The Rangers were looking for payback against Southern Arkansas as they lost to the Muleriders, 69-49, back in December.
The Rangers struggled with foul trouble early on, which hurt them.
Furlong, Larry White and Anthony Jones got into foul trouble quickly, so the team played most of the first half without its starters.
Despite the foul trouble, the Rangers battled with Southern Arkansas and went into the half down 30-28.
The second half was a different story. The Rangers outplayed the Muleriders and opened up opportunities to score, making plays offensively and defensively.
Five players for the Rangers had 10 or more points, with Furlong and Brian Free leading the Rangers with 14 points each.
Head coach Vinay Patel was positive about the team’s victories.
“It’s been great to win at home,” Patel said. “We haven’t been good at home in league play. We didn’t get a good start, but we have done a good job making up for it on the road.”
The Rangers completed the sweep against Monticello Jan. 24, as it was a make-up game from earlier in the year.
Free and Malik Parsons led the Rangers in scoring, with 22 and 19 points, respectively, helping the Rangers win, 71-55.
