Rangers’ 2022 season closes with 72-63 loss to Southern Arkansas Muleriders
By CADE KENNEDY, Sports Editor
After reaching the third seed in the Great American Conference, the Northwestern men’s basketball team’s season came to an end Friday afternoon in Shawnee.
The Rangers lost to the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas, 72-63, in a game where the Rangers did not stop the Muleriders from rebounding the ball.
“There was one major adjustment, and we just could never make it, and that was the offensive rebounding,” said Jordan Franz, the associate head coach of the Rangers. “We knew it going into the game, and it was something we stressed the entire time was offensive rebounding.”
The Muleriders out-rebounded the Rangers by a margin of 32, as the Muleriders swallowed up 57 rebounds compared to 25 for the Rangers. The Rangers had no answer for Jalen Brooks, who finished with 24 points and 20 rebounds for the Muleriders.
Of those 20 rebounds, nine were offensive rebounds, which allowed Southern Arkansas to get multiple shots per possession.
Jalen Brooks was not the only one living in the paint against the Rangers, as Devante Brooks, Jalen’s brother, had a strong performance. Devante Brooks finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and both brothers had double-doubles.
When Northwestern needed a big stop late in the game, the Rangers did not find an answer. The situation worsened as the final five minutes of the game rolled on. Coaches and fans could only watch as three starters fouled out for the Rangers.
Foul trouble was the other major concern for the Rangers, as Bubba Furlong only played 11 minutes before fouling out of the game. Brian Free led the Rangers in minutes with 28.
The foul trouble started right from the opening tip, as the Rangers committed seven fouls in the first six minutes of the game, while the Muleriders had none. After the first six minutes, both teams committed 23 fouls. The Rangers finished the game with 30 fouls, and the Muleriders had 23.
The Rangers had to rely on their bench in the first half to stay in the game, and the Rangers got what they needed.
Chance Love came off the bench and led the Rangers in scoring with 11 points. Ravel Moody chipped in with 10, and Eric Hancik finished with nine.
The Rangers weathered the initial onslaught from the Muleriders and found themselves in a tied game at halftime, 36-36.
As the second half began, both teams upped the physicality, with both teams scrapping for every loose ball.
The momentum continued to shift between sides, with neither team establishing a clear advantage. With fewer than six minutes to go, the game was tied at 59, but that was about to change.
With 5:25 left in the game, Aaron Lucas knocked down his only 3-pointer of the game to give Southern Arkansas a 62-59 lead. Northwestern struggled to score, as the Rangers only scored four points in the final five minutes. The Muleriders put pressure on the Rangers and rode the wave of momentum to a 72-63 victory.
Despite the season being over, the Rangers had several accomplishments throughout the year. The Rangers finished the year with a 20-9 record, which is a 17-win improvement from last year.
Three different Rangers received awards from the Great American Conference for their play this year. Furlong received the Defensive Player of the Year Award and finished on the Great American Conference second-team. Larry White and Malik Parsons finished as Great American Conference honorable mentions.
The future looks bright for the Rangers, as only three players graduate this year.
“We’ll return a lot of starters, and we’ll get Jason Douglas-Stanley back,” Franz said. “He’s the one who tore his Achilles tendon early, and getting him back will help.”
