BY KAROLINA JURESIUTE
Student Reporter
The Rangers closed out a road win Saturday to secure a conference bid, which will take place in Shawnee, March 7-9.
Northwestern Rangers won an intense, close game against the rival Southwestern by six points 78-72 on Feb. 15. Saturday, the Rangers beat Oklahoma Baptist, 81-76.
After the wins the Rangers improve to a 14-10 record.
During the home game, five Ranger players ended up in double digits. Brian Free and Camron McDowell led the team with 18 points each. Marquise Milton added 12 points and game high 6 assists. Larry White, and Kabeya Tshibangu both added 11 points.
Brian Free started off for the Rangers by hitting a deep 3, Larry White followed up with a deep mid jumper which made the Rangers go on a 5-0 run.
After the Bulldogs called timeout, they tied the game with the Rangers 8-8. The Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run and had a six-point lead. Camron McDowell made two back-to-back three pointers to put the Rangers back in the game 20-20.
At the end of the first half of the game, C. McDowell got a technical foul and that put the Bulldogs up by five points. The Bulldogs’ lead was cut into two points after another deep three from Brian Free.
Southwestern did not give up and got in the lead by seven which was the highest lead of the game.
After a monster alley-oop dunk from Kabeya Tshibangu assisted by Kennedy Milton, the lead was cut to five pints. Brian Free made his third three pointer of the game to seal the first half and the score was tied 37-37.
To start the second half of the game, one of the Southwestern players received a technical foul for flopping. B. Free made the free-throw and K. Tshibangu had another slam dunk the following possession.
It was a battle between Northwestern Rangers and Southwestern Bulldogs, fighting for the lead.
Halfway through the first 10 minutes of the second half, Free scored his fourth three-pointer, putting Northwestern up by six points 51-45. 9 minutes left to play the score was tied 58-58.
K. Milton the following possession added three more points, to now put the Rangers up by six points. The Bulldogs answered right back and cut the lead back to three points.
Just four minutes left to play B. Free scored his fifth three-point basket. To finish the game M. Milton made all four of his free-throws and Rangers won the game 78-72.
B. Free went 50% from the three-point line scoring 5/10. C. McDowell shot 100% from the three-point line going 3/3. The Northwestern Rangers also had seven blocks as a team. The Rangers advanced to a 13-10 record after Thursday’s win.
Now win a record of (14-10)after the game against Oklahoma Bapist University on Saturday.
