Alva Review-Courier -

ALVA, Okla. – Fresh off a double-overtime win Thursday night at Southwestern Oklahoma State, the Rangers were faced with a tough test less than 48 hours later with a matchup against Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Unfortunately, the Savage Storm was able to get over a Ranger lead late in the game as Northwestern fell to the Southeastern, 79-72.

Coming out of the locker room at halftime, the Rangers were trailing the Savage Storm by 40-33. Jack Peck, who led had 23 second-half points Thursday, started the second half strong on Saturday as he came away with a steal and was fouled. He converted the free-throws and Andrew Clopton came down on the next possession and hit a jumper to quickly cut into the Savage Storm lead.

Later in the half, the Southeastern lead was back up to six at 50-44 when Bryce Cashman hit a layup and was fouled. After he made the free-throw, Cole Jones knocked down a three on the next possession and Cashman sank a floater in the lane less than a minute later for a quick eight-point swing and the lead.

Peck continued the run with back-to-back baskets for the Rangers, sandwiching a put back layup from Savage Storm big man Kevin Buckingham, to make it 56-52 Northwestern. Eventually the Rangers would make the run an 18-4 stretch, holding on to an eight-point advantage with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Chipping away at the lead over the next few minutes, the Savage Storm overtook the Rangers with 2:49 to go in the game. Looking up at a seven-point difference with a little more than a minute to go, Peck got to the line and converted on a pair of free-throws.

Trey Lunn

Andrew Clopton slices through the defense to score the lay-up.

SOSU failed to converted on back-to-back bonus free-throw opportunities, giving the Rangers a window to cut the lead to one possession, but a three-point shot didn’t fall for Northwestern. Southeastern added a dunk in the final minutes for the final 79-72 output.

Four Rangers finished the game in double figures with Peck leading the way with 15 points. A.J. Jones added 14 points for Northwestern, David Thornton had 11 and Bryshon Bryant had 10. Peck and Thornton led Northwestern with eight and six rebounds, respectively, while A.J. Jones makes a push for the single season assists record as he added eight more on Saturday.

The Rangers will play their final two home games of the season next week with a showdown against Ouachita Baptist at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a Saturday afternoon date with Henderson State.