RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Despite Adrian Motley’s big game against the Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys (3-1, 2-0 Great American Conference), the Rangers (1-2, 0-1 GAC) couldn’t overcome their cooldown in the first half after a strong start to get an early lead.

The Wonder Boys were the first on the board after a coast-to-coast layup from Abednego Lufile for an 0-2 start, but Austin Klug answered for Northwestern with a jumper to tie the game. This gave the Rangers a short 5-0 run that gave them a three-point lead over the Arkansas Tech to put the score at 5-2.

Unfortunately, the Rangers, went through a cold streak from the field after that while the Wonder Boys went on 12-0 tear to get a nine-point lead, 5-14 with over 12 minutes to go in the first half.

Motley was able to break the drought with a mid-range jumper followed by a made foul shot from Zachary Dumas to come back within six of the Wonder Boys’ lead.

Despite the Rangers battling back to stay in the game, Arkansas Tech got as much as a 14-point lead with just over six minutes to go before halftime before Northwestern started to chip away at the deficit. Motley helped the Rangers come back within five attacking the basket with a layup and following with a three-pointer to put the score at 20-29. A foul shot from Trey Johnson and three from Cody Halvorson put Northwestern back within five points of the Wonder Boys, but Arkansas Tech maintained their lead going into halftime with the score at 28-36.

The Wonder Boys came out firing in the second half, starting with a quick layup and back-to-back threes, but Klug was able to keep the Rangers in the game, scoring the first six points of the half for Northwestern. With the score at 34-46, the Rangers went the next two minutes scoreless form the field while Arkansas Tech built a 17-point lead, 35-52 before Brandon Green drained both foul shots for Northwestern.

Unfortunately, the Rangers would only get as close as 14 points to the Wonder Boys’ lead while they got as much as a 26-point lead before giving the Rangers their second conference loss 69-85.

Stats

Motley led the Rangers with 23 points, shooting 6-for-16 from the field. He was 9-of-10 from the charity strip to go with his nine rebounds – the team high. Halvorson had second team high with 11 points to go with his one rebound and one block, followed closely by Klug with 10 (shooting 5-of-7 from the field) to go with three rebounds. Other contributors were Greg Minor Jr. (5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal), Trey Johnson (4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist), Dumas (4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal), Cedric Collinge (3 points, 1 steal), Green (2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists), Deiondray Martin (2 points, 3 rebounds), Jared Jenkins (2 points), Hunter Frisby (2 points, 1 assist), Alonzo Williams (1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 assist), Brandon Kirk (1 rebound) and Ben Crider (1 block).

The Rangers (1-3, 0-2 GAC) will follow this up with a non-conference game against Emporia State University (1-2) on Nov. 22 with a tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. for a home opener in Percefull Fieldhouse.