By RYAN SHUMAKER
Sports Editor
Ranger nation came out in full support Monday night when the Ranger men’s basketball took on archrival Southwestern Oklahoma State.
The Rangers jumped out to an early lead and fed off the crowd’s energy to take down the Bulldogs 85-35.
The Rangers jumped out to a 21-14 lead 10 minutes into the game and shot 50 percent from both the field and the three-point line in the first half. The Bulldogs closed the Ranger lead down to seven before guard T’aries Taylor hit a deep three to bring the lead back to ten with 33 seconds left in the half.
A half-time performance from the Ranger cheer and dance teams kept the packed house energized before the Rangers returned to the court to continue their beat down of the Bulldogs.
The Rangers came out and immediately increased their lead to 13 after a free throw from point guard Brandon Green. The Bulldogs responded with five unanswered points, but junior Adrian Motley got fouled on a fast break lay in and made the free throw to convert the three point play. The rout was then on as the Bulldogs never got back to within 18 of the Rangers and both teams eventually started entering reserves for the final minutes of the game.
Motley led the Rangers in scoring yet again and provided a double-double effort with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Taylor and Green harassed the Bulldog guards all night with shut-down defense while junior transfer Deiondray Martin and freshman Zach Dumas continued to provide spark for the Rangers off the bench. Green nearly reached the triple-double marker as he finished with 12 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.
The Rangers defense stayed all over the Bulldog’s offense all game, allowing the Bulldogs to only shoot 32.8 percent from the field and forced turnovers which led to 22 Ranger points. The Black-and-Red also got to the free throw line early and often, which put the Bulldogs in foul trouble all game, and shot 75 percent from the charity stripe.
The win over Southwestern evens the Rangers conference record up at 9-9, one game clear of Arkansas Tech and Southeastern. Eight teams will make the conference tournament in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Mar. 3-6, making the final four games for the Rangers crucial in not only making the tournament, but also in tournament seeding.
The Rangers will play their final home game Thursday night against Oklahoma Baptist University, with tip-off scheduled at 7:30 P.M. in Perceful Fieldhouse.