By ELY NOBLE
Senior Reporter
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University men’s basketball team recently competed its non-conference schedule with a trio of showcasing highs, lows and standout games by individuals.
Cameron University 89
NWOSU 85
On Wednesday, November 20, the Rangers hosted the Cameron University Aggies in a game that came down to the final buzzer.
Northwestern did fall in this game 89-85, dropping their record to 2-2 on the season. Cameron improved to 2-3.
The Aggies were led by Aaron Jacob’s 23 points, but it was the Rangers’ Camron McDowell who shined the brightest, dropping a game-high 26 points.
Max Alexander added 18 points, and DaRaun Clark chipped in 14 with Kabeya Tshibangu leading the team in rebounds with six.
The game started with fireworks, as Clark opened the scoring with a three-pointer. The Rangers shot a perfect 3-for-3 to begin the game, getting off to an early lead.
Cameron clawed back, eventually tying the game at 27-27 before Northwestern surged again with a Kabeya Tshibangu dunk in the fastbreak.
A late first-half rally by Cameron saw them take a slim 47-44 lead into halftime.
The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to keep control for long.
The Rangers led 80-79 after Tshibangu’s defensive block set up a key basket, but Cameron closed strong, securing the win with clutch free throws in the final minute.
Adams State 75
NWOSU 84
The Rangers quickly regrouped for their next game on Saturday, November 23, defeating Adams State 84-75 in front of their home crowd. Northwestern improved to 3-2, while the Grizzlies fell to 3-3.
Max Alexander had an eye opening performance, leading the Rangers with 28 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
Justin Norris recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Rangers had four players score in double figures, including Clark with 12 points and Kenyon Holcombe with 11.
The game started slow, with both teams struggling to score early. Clark ignited the Rangers’ offense, hitting three consecutive three-pointers to help Northwestern take an 11-5 lead. Holcombe added a throwdown to get the crowd excited, and Alexander’s offensive play helped the Rangers extend their lead to as much as 13 points in the first half. Northwestern led 42-31 at the break.
The second half saw Adams State fight back, narrowing the gap to just two points late in the game. But Northwestern’s defense tightened, forcing turnovers and limiting the Grizzlies to just one field goal in the final two minutes.
The Rangers finished with a 9-2 run to secure the win.
Friends University 92
NWOSU 71
In their final non-conference game on Tuesday, November 26, the Rangers faced Friends University.
Despite a stellar effort from Max Alexander, who scored a season-high 38 points, Northwestern fell 92-71, dropping to 3-3 on the season. Friends improved to 6-2.
The game started promisingly for the Rangers, with Justin Norris hitting a three-pointer to open the scoring. However, Friends responded with a 5-0 run and never looked back. Northwestern trailed 42-34 at halftime after the Falcons closed the half on an 8-2 run.
In the second half, Friends quickly extended their lead to double digits.
The Falcons’ Randy Woolf proved to be a problem for Northwestern in the second half, draining three-pointers and helping Friends build a 20-point advantage. The Rangers made brief runs to cut the deficit, but Friends’ efficient shooting and dominance on the boards proved too much.
The Rangers now turn their attention to Great American Conference play, beginning December 5 against Arkansas Tech. With a 3-3 record, Northwestern hopes to build on the lessons learned during non-conference play and make a strong showing in conference matchups.
In the first week of the season on November 11, Max Alexander was announced as the Great American Conferences offensive player of the week.
When NWOSU played Northeastern State, he dropped 34 points. In the next game they played, against the University of Central Oklahoma, he scored 28 points and had 5 rebounds.
Alexander has been nominated two more times, Camron McDowwell has been nominated twice, Kabeya Tshibangu has been nominated once.
