By KEN IRVING
Student Reporter
The NWOSU Rangers fell short to the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys 54-53 in the semi-final round of the GAC tournament.
The Rangers beat SWOSU in the first round but lost to Arkansas Tech in a nail-biter in the second round of the GAC tournament.
Senior guard Marquise Milton led the Rangers with 17 points and Kennedy Milton with 15 points in the win over the SWOSU Bulldogs.
Graduate guard Brian Free led the Rangers with 15 points and Camron Mcdowell with nine points in the loss to the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys.
Rallying off the first-round victory over SWOSU, the Rangers came into the second round with a lot of momentum as they hope to advance to the Conference Championship game.
Redshirt sophomore Cameron McDowell opened the game with a 3-pointer.
He scored four straight points to give the Rangers an early 10-6 lead.
Marquise Milton knocked down a three pointer to ignite a 9-0 Ranger run.
A layup by Redshirt sophomore Shavaul Butters gave the Rangers a 16-8 lead.
Free’s 3- pointer gave the Rangers their biggest lead of the game (13) but Arkansas Tech didn’t fade away. They climbed their way back into the game to cut the Ranger lead to one possession.
Free extended the Ranger lead after a couple of buckets.
Arkansas Tech stormed back and scored six straight to take the lead.
Free would give the Rangers a one-point lead at half after a score. They led 31-30
A McDowell 2-pointer extended the Rangers lead to start the second half. Senior forward Chance Love added onto that lead with a 2- pointer of his own.
The Rangers and the Wonder Boys kept answering each other. When one scored, the other scored.
The Rangers flirted with a 1 to 3-point lead throughout the second half before a score by Kennedy Milton.
This gave the Rangers a 6-point cushion that was quickly erased by the Wonder Boys.
The Rangers got the lead back to five with five minutes remaining in the game.
The Rangers were unable to put away the Wonder Boys as Arkansas Tech scored the last four points of the game to take a one-point lead.
The Rangers could not score, and their season is over as they lose to the Wonder Boys 54-53.
