By NICK VILLALOBOS
Editor-in-Chief
Rangers knock off the No. 1 team in conference, 71-66, on Saturday at home.
Northwestern entered the contest coming off a dominant 94-79 win over the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
When play began in Percefull Fieldhouse on Saturday, the Rangers started off slow. However, the White-and-Red managed to get their offense going and ramp up the pace of play after two key turnovers by the Tigers.
The Rangers pulled to a 21-10 lead on East Central with 8:06 remaining in the half with help from Rangers Laakeem Henderson, T’aires Taylor, Adrian Motley and Deiandray Martin. Both the Rangers and Tigers continued their high pace throughout the first half. The Rangers, however, would continue to build onto their lead over East Central.
With 2:12 remaining in the half, Henderson would convert the first of two free throws to stretch the Rangers lead to 15 over the Tigers. The conversion ultimately helped the Rangers continue their momentum for the remainder of the half.
As the half came to a close, Martin nailed a three pointer to lengthen the Rangers lead to 40-26 over East Central following a Tiger turnover.
When the teams headed to the locker room, the Rangers shot 41.18 percent from the field, an impressive 60 percent from beyond the arc and a massive 72.4 percent from the free throw line.
The Rangers were led by Henderson and Martin in the first half. Each totaled eight points. Motley and Taylor were close behind their efforts as they totaled seven points each.
Following halftime, the Rangers continued the offensive fire from the first half as they lengthened their lead on the Orange-and-Black to a game high 20 points.
At the midway point through the second half, Ranger Zachary Dumas nailed seven straight points. Despite the effort from Dumas, East Central still managed to cut into the Rangers monstrous lead. Then out of nowhere, the Rangers struggled with poor shooting, several turnovers and fouls. The struggles allowed the Tigers to crawl back into the contest as they found themselves trailing by five with 4:15 remaining in the game.
Just two minutes later, the Tigers managed to fight back to a one point lead. It was the first time the Tigers led in the contest since the 11:15 mark of the first half. It looked as if it was going to be another dismal performance for the Rangers as they seen their 20 point lead on the No. 1 ranked team disappear.
Motley would step up big for the Rangers however, as he converted a free throw giving the lead back to Northwestern.
The Tigers then tried to play the foul game for the remainder of the half, but the Rangers would not surrender their lead again. When the final whistle sounded, the upset of the No. 1 team was complete as the Rangers knocked off the Tigers 71-66.
The Rangers would finish the game shooting 38.6 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from beyond the arc and an impressive 72.4 percent from the free throw line.
Northwestern was led by Motley who totaled 17 points after struggling early on in the first half.
Northwestern (5-10 overall, 5-6 GAC) heads next to Searcy, Ark. tonight to face the Harding University Bison and then to Russellville, Ark. on Saturday to face the Arkansas Tech Wonderboys.