By Caitlin Hofen, Feature Editor
After a historic win on Feb. 13 against Southwestern, the Rangers lost twice on the road against Arkansas Tech and Harding.
The Rangers fell, 88-79, against Arkansas Tech on Thursday in Russellville, Arkansas.
The Wonder Boys scored first, but Free responded with a three-pointer to give the Rangers their first lead of the game. The teams battled back and forth to stay ahead until Arkansas Tech managed a three-pointer to push ahead 14-13 with 14:28 left in the first half. Northwestern responded with a three from Free and took the lead 19-14. The Wonder Boys pushed back and extended an eight-point run, leading 29-21 with 9:26 left in the first half.
Arkansas Tech held the lead from there and controlled the game the rest of the evening. They pushed their lead to 35-22 and utilized Northwestern’s turnovers to stretch their lead even further.
The Rangers tried to battle back, with Free making a layup off a crossover. Chance Love hit a jump shot and was fouled, finishing a three-point play with his made free throw. Marquise Milton finished a layup to send the game into halftime, with the Rangers trailing 46-35.
The Wonder Boys made quick work at the beginning of the second half, forcing three Ranger turnovers. They extended their lead by 19 points before Northwestern started chiseling away with fewer than 10 minutes left in the game.
Free hit two three-pointers, and White made a layup out of a forced turnover. With another three from Free, the Rangers were back within nine points of the Wonder Boys. Eventually, the Rangers cut the deficit to six points but did not pull ahead. Arkansas Tech pushed back at the end with a nine-point victory over Northwestern.
On the road again, the Rangers fell to the Harding Bisons, 79-74, on Saturday in Searcy, Arkansas.
Harding started off strong with a three-pointer and two foul shots. Larry White put the Rangers on the board with an offensive put-back and later a three to tie the game at 5-5 two minutes into the game. The Bisons soon pushed ahead and pushed their lead to 22-14 with back-to-back threes.
With 6:14 left in the first half, White forced a steal and finished the layup. But Harding answered with a four-point retaliation to push their lead to nine. Deatrick Pashell started a Ranger run to bring the deficit back to four points at 28-24 after foul shots by Parsons. After much back-and-forth, the Rangers went to the locker room trailing 43-33.
Harding continued to hold a 10-point lead at 53-43 before the Rangers closed the gap. Free hit a three-pointer, followed by Parsons with a layup off a fast-break, as Northwestern cut the deficit to five points at 53-48 with 16:15 left to play in the game.
Parsons stole the ball and cut the deficit to two with back-to-back layups as the Rangers trailed 58-56. Parsons then tied the game for the first time since the opening half at 58-58. Harding answered back with eight straight points to regain the lead, 66-58.
White sparked another Ranger run with a three before two foul shots had Northwestern back within four. Eric Hancik then finished off a layup before Marquise Milton and Free hit back-to-back three pointers to tie the game at 70-70.
Northwestern had its first lead at 72-70 with just two minutes left to play. However, Harding responded with a three-pointer, giving over the lead at 73-72.
The Bisons closed the game off at the foul line, making four straight free throws to close out the game with a 79-74 lead over the Rangers.