By RYAN SHUMAKER
Sports Editor
The men’s basketball team took to the court this last weekend and came away with one key victory and one heartbreaking loss.
The Rangers welcomed the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas University to Percefull Fieldhouse and Ranger nation came out in full-fledged support.
The first half of the action saw back and forth play with neither team building a larger lead than four points until the Muleriders broke through and went on an 11-2 run to end the first half. Multiple missed free throws allowed the Muleriders to stay out in front of the Rangers despite their poor shooting.
Following the halftime intermission the Rangers came out on fire with Junior Adrian Motley hitting two quick jump shots, one which was created by point guard Brandon Green’s steal at half court.
The Rangers evened the score up at 37 midway through the half on a Zach Dumas free throw.
Following a missed free throw, Motley regained possession and laid the ball in giving the Black-and-Red their first lead of the ball game since the beginning of the first half.
Following two dunks by the Muleriders, Junior Deiondray Martin hit two key free throws to bring the Rangers back within two with 1:17 seconds left on the clock.
Motley hit a lay-up with 45 seconds left on the clock and then again after the Muleriders yet again answered with a bucket of their own.
With 10 seconds left, Mulerider guard CJ Elkins received a pass and dribbled around the Rangers defense to the top of the three point line and hit a shot off the backboard that handed the Rangers a 59-56 loss.
Motley led the way for the Rangers with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while the Rangers as a whole struggled mightily from the free throw line going 11-26 as a team from the charity stripe.
The loss dropped the Rangers a spot in the conference standings, making Saturday’s contest with the University of Arkansas-Monticello even more important.
On Saturday the Rangers came away with a 85-75 victory over Arkansas-Monticello.
The Rangers came out hot and never looked back, shooting 54 percent from the field as a team. The Rangers never trailed in the game, with Motley and Green leading the way with 19 and 14 points apiece.
Early in the game it was evident the Rangers had no ill effects of the heartbreaking loss earlier in the week, as they jumped out to a 17-10 lead. The Black-and-Red kept the petal to the metal and got the lead extended by as much as 13 points in the first half.
The Weevils tied the game back up in the second half at 54 but found themselves in foul trouble down the stretch, which led to a Rangers 10 point victory. The Rangers (7-12,7-8) sit in sixth place in the Great American Conference standings.
Eight teams will compete in the GAC Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla. March 3-6, making the final seven games critical for the Rangers positioning in the tournament.