Alva Review-Courier -

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Northwestern opened a three-game road trip with fireworks Thursday at Henderson State. The Rangers used a 7-0 run to open their largest lead of the game at seven at 49-42, before the final moment of the game. Chance Love gave Northwestern the lead with a put-back layup with three seconds left in the game to take a 66-65 lead, the eventual final score.

Northwestern improves to 6-5 on the season with a 2-5 conference record as Henderson State falls to 4-3 in conference. Love and Larry White led the Rangers with 14 points each in the win. Brian Free was the third Ranger in double figures with 10 points. White had a game high eight rebounds.

First Half

The game started with all defense in the first half after Josh Mason of Henderson State got the scoring started before a Parsons three gave the Rangers their first lead of the game. After two turnovers by each team Henderson State led 6-3 three minutes into the game. Shavaul Butters ended the Reddies 6-0 run with a layup down low to bring the Rangers back within three points. At the first media timeout with 14:49 the Rangers still trailed by three 10-7 following two points from Larry White. Chance Love capitalized on a fastbreak opportunity to cut the deficit to one ending nearly a two-minute scoring drought. Eric Hancik answered a Reddies three pointer to keep the Rangers within one point with 10:18 left in the half from a Deatrick Pashell dunk.

White gave the Rangers their first lead since the opening minute on a steal closed off by a fast break dunk for a 16-15 lead. Free kept the run going with a layup on the fast break giving Northwestern their largest lead at 18-15. Henderson State answered back to tie the game at 20-20 before taking a 23-20 lead. Northwestern tied the game with three foul shots made two by Kennedy Milton. Henderson State went on an 8-0 run to open a 31-23 lead, their largest lead of the night. Milton silenced the run with a three pointer with just over 30 seconds left in the half as the Rangers trailed 31-26 at the break.

Second Half

Henderson State had the first points of the second half before the Rangers went on a 5-0 run as the Rangers trailed 33-31 following a three-point play by Jason Douglas Stanley completed on the free throw. Henderson grew their lead to 38-31 with 17:03 left in the game. Northwestern answered back with a 7-0 run with five of those points coming from Larry White before a Brian Free three pointer tied the game at 38-38. The game was tied at 42-42 with 12:49 left in the game before a 7-0 run started by a Chance Love three pointer closed out by foul shots from Hancik had the Rangers leading 49-42.

Henderson State answered back, closing the deficit to three at 51-48 with 9:19 left to go in the game. Love answered back with his second three pointer of the game. Kennedy Milton kept the Rangers in front with a jump shot followed by a Hancik made shot to extend the lead to 60-55. Henderson State cut the gap to one with 1:13 left to play in the game at 62-61. The teams traded foul shots in the closing minute of the game as White capitalized for the Rangers before Henderson State answered back taking a 65-64 lead with 14 seconds to play. Milton found Love down low in the paint and after a missed layup, Chance Loved cleaned up his own miss with a put back layup to win the game for Northwestern 66-65.