The NWOSU men’s basketball record stayed even after losing two and winning two over Thanksgiving break.
The Rangers faced Adams State University, Eastern New Mexico University, Kansas Wesleyan University and Emporia State University. The game against Adams State was away, and the following three were home.
NWOSU 86-99 ADM
The Rangers lost to the Adams State University Grizzlies to start the four-game stretch.
The game started with the Grizzlies going on a 6-0 run before the Rangers struck back with a jumper from Max Alexander. Adams State continued to put the pressure on the Rangers, as they ran away again to have an 11-point lead.
The Rangers were able to catch the Grizzlies to make it 12-15 eight minutes into the half. Then, the two teams went back and forth, scoring baskets on both ends of the court. Eventually, the Rangers caught Adams State 23-23 with seven minutes left in the half. The Grizzlies then went on a run to increase their lead again. The Grizzlies kept their lead in the double digits to finish the half, and the Rangers were down 46-33.
To start the second half, the two teams fought hard. Slowly, the Rangers got the upper hand and started to catch Adams State. Halfway into the second half, the Rangers were only down by three points. The teams continued to scrap, and eventually the Rangers were only down by two. Then, Adams State opened up and extended its lead once again into the double digits. There wasn’t enough time at the end for a comeback, and the Rangers lost 86-99.
Alexander led the Rangers in scoring with 24. He went 8-16 in field goals and 8-8 in free throws. Kenny Burns III and Keyondre Young both had 14 points to their names. Burns went 4-11 in field goals and 4-7 in three pointers, the best on the team. Young had 4-12 field goals made and only missed one of his five free throws.
ESNM 83-63 NWOSU
The second game in the stretch went worse for the Rangers, losing by 20 points to Eastern New Mexico University.
The game started incredibly competitive. The teams were tied six minutes into the first half, and they stayed close in the following minutes. Eventually, Eastern New Mexico found something that worked, and they extended their lead to fifteen with three minutes left in the half. Northwestern was able to nibble at the Greyhound’s lead, but it wasn’t by much. Eastern New Mexico State was up by 12 at the end of the first half.
The Greyhounds continued their run in the second half, continuing to grow their lead to 19. Then, the Rangers fought back and matched the Greyhounds for a few moments. As the half continued, the two teams were close in scoring, but Eastern New Mexico slowly extended its lead as time progressed. The game ended with the Greyhounds over the Rangers 83-63.
Robbie Armbrester led the Rangers in scoring with 17. He was 7-8 in field goals and 2-4 in free throws. Alexander was not far behind with 13 points, and Burns was just behind Alexander with 12.
KWE 78-80 NWOSU
The Rangers stepped it up in the next game, defeating the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes after losing three straight.
The first half started competitively, with the two teams staying even two minutes into the game. The Coyotes then found a rhythm and took the lead, and extended it to ten. After the Coyotes had a substantial lead, the game settled back down, and the two teams were in a rhythm. Eventually, the Rangers started chipping at the Coyotes’ lead, and by the end of the half, the Rangers got them down to just six points ahead.
The second half started with the Rangers down, but not out. Kansas Wesleyan extended its lead to start the half, but the Rangers quickly slowed them down, and started going after their lead. Slowly but surely, Northwestern was back in the game with just 12 minutes left in the final half. Just two minutes later, the Rangers took the lead with a three-pointer from Chris Tippins. The Coyotes wouldn’t go down without a fight, and they started hitting the Rangers back.
Down by six with seven minutes to go, the Rangers locked in and pushed forward. With two minutes left, the Coyotes took the lead by two, but free throws from Alexander put the Rangers back on top with just seconds left in the game. After constant fouls from Kansas Wesleyan, the Rangers had the lead by two with free throws from Alexander.
The Rangers won the game after the Coyotes missed a three-pointer with two seconds left, 80-78.
Alexander and Armbrester led the Rangers in points once again. Alexander, with 23, and Armbrester, with 22. Alexander and Justin Norris put on a defensive showing as they both had three steals.
EMP 83-85 NWOSU
The Rangers had one more game to play, and it was against Emporia State University, whom the Rangers defeated by just two points.
The two teams fought hard at the start of the game, but eventually the Rangers turned on the afterburners and earned themselves a large lead by the 15-minute mark in the first half, at one point being 13. The Hornets battled back, and by the end of the half, it was only a nine point game.
At the start of the second half, the Hornets pushed hard, but the Rangers pushed harder and extended their lead once again, this time to 15. Then, with the pressure on Emporia State, they put their heads down and battled the Rangers hard.
With three minutes left on the clock, the Hornets had caught the Rangers at 80, and there was a tight game in the closing stages. Emporia State proceeded to commit game-changing fouls, and with the free-throw skills from Alexander, the Rangers kept their lead of just two and won the game over the Hornets.
Alexander had a whopping 32 points against Emporia State. He made 11 out of 18 field goals and nine out of 12 free throws. Young put on a defensive show and had three steals. Norris had 14 points and two blocks.
The Rangers’ next games are against Arkansas Tech on Thursday and Harding on Saturday.
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