By OAKLEE FIELDER
Sports Editor
This week, the NWOSU men’s basketball played two games. One at home against the SWOSU Bulldogs, and one away against the ECU Tigers. Rangers entered the week 8-8 after a win against the Southern Arkansas Muleriders.
Percefull Fieldhouse was full with students and fans dressed in black for the blackout game against SWOSU.
The game against the Bulldogs started with the Rangers getting the tossup. The Rangers scored the first point after a foul against the Bulldogs.
Daraun Clark made the free throw and the scoring was opened up. The Bulldogs had gotten to a four-point lead at 5-1, but the Rangers fought back.
It was a back and forth for almost half of the first half, but then the Bulldogs went on a seven-point run and had the lead by five points.
They continued to extend their lead bit by bit, but nine minutes into the half, the Rangers had gotten within a one score difference from the Bulldogs.
The half continued to be a close one, both teams going back and forth with the lead. Until the Rangers took the lead with 21 seconds left in the half with the help of a foul from SWOSU, making it 32-35 at halftime the second half started just as well for the Rangers.
Cameron McDowell made a 3-pointer to set the tone in the last half of the game.
The Rangers did not stop there, continuing scoring and extending their lead by ten points. They kept the lead at a safe distance, not being in touching distance from the Bulldogs for a while.
Unfortunately, about halfway through the second portion of the game, the Bulldogs closed the lead to one singular point. Being somewhat in danger, the Rangers didn’t let it any closer than that, and extended their lead again.
With the crowd loud and against them, the Bulldogs put their head down and got within tying distance of the Rangers.
With the pressure on them, they fouled and allowed the Rangers to score two free throws and thus ending the game.
The Rangers put the icing on the cake and put the cherry on top with a huge dunk by Kabeya Tshibangu with an assist from Justin Norris. The game ended 64-70 with a Ranger win.
The men’s next basketball game was against the East Central Tigers in Ada.
The game started with Cameron McDowell scoring a three pointer. The Tigers responded with a three and a field goal to take the lead. ECU kept scoring and extended their lead to six points.
The Rangers scored two three-pointers in a row to tie the game. They then kept the momentum going and extended their lead.
The Tigers reeled them back in and ran away. The Rangers tried to slow them down and kept them within a ten-point difference. The first half ended 32-36 in the Tigers favor. The second half of the game continued to be in the Tigers favor. They kept their lead and didn’t let go, despite the Rangers attempts to fight back and bring the game back to being close. The Tigers stumbled a third into the second half, and the Rangers reeled them in and tied the game at 11-minute mark. With a lot of time to go, the Rangers pushed hard and didn’t stop pushing. They took the lead and did not lose momentum.
The Tigers continued to keep trying and attempted to save the game with less than a minute left. Luckily for the Rangers, the score difference was too high and the took down the Tigers 71-66.
The Rangers left this week 10-8 overall, 7-5 GAC, and 6th in the standings.
They are under Henderson State who has the same conference record than them but have one more overall win than the Rangers. The Rangers continue to be the only GAC team who have defeated Southern Nazarene.