Rangers complete comeback victory over the Bulldogs in overtime thriller
February 17, 2023
ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State bounced back with a double digit overtime victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Rangers used a major run late in the second half to tie the game, a 7-0 run in the last 1:27 of the game. The Rangers outscored the Bulldogs by ten in overtime to seal the comeback victory.
Northwestern was led by Malik Parsons with 33 points as one of three players in double digits joined by Brian Free after a 22 point effort along with Larry White with 17 points. Larry White finished with a double-double grabbing 12 rebounds.
The Rangers opened the game with a strong defensive performance holding Southwestern scoreless for the opening two and a half minutes of the game. With the Rangers leading 2-0 following foul shots from Parsons. Marquise Milton hit a three to take a 5-2 lead. Gipson tied it at five with 16:30 left in the half. Southwestern completed a 11-0 run to take a 14-5 lead over the Rangers. Parsons silenced the run with a layup to help bring the Rangers back in the game. Southwestern continued to hold the 11 point lead about halfway through the first half before a Chance Love dunk brought it to 18-9. The lead was at 10 with the Bulldogs leading 21-11. The deficit stayed in double digits. Brian Free knocked down a three pointer to cut the deficit to six at 30-24.
In the closing minutes of the first half Brian Free knocked down his second three pointer of the evening to bring the deficit to 37-30 at halftime.
The second half the Rangers jumped out to a 7-0 run to tie the game at 37-37. Parsons knocked down a jumper following a Free three before a White fast-break layup tied the game. Northwestern pushed the run to 10-0 to take a 40-37 lead over the Bulldogs. Southwestern answered back but Parsons took a 43-41 lead. The teams traded points as the game was even at 47-47 with 12:46 left to play in the game. Jason Douglas-Stanley tied the game at 51-51 halfway through the half.
Southwestern stormed in front, answering back on the Rangers run for a 59-53 lead over the Rangers. Northwestern went on a 6-0 run to tie it back at 59-59 following a couple foul shots by Free and a Parsons layup. Southwestern was able to advance in front by 69-61 holding an eight point lead with three minutes left in the game. The deficit for the Rangers was still seven points before Northwestern came back in the closing minutes.
Two foul shots by Parsons brought the deficit down to five. Free hit a big three pointer to cut it to 71-69 with 57 seconds left in the game. Following a defensive stop with a rebound by the Rangers, Parsons drove to the rim finishing with a layup to tie the game and send it into overtime after a missed three at the buzzer by Southwestern. This was the second straight overtime game for the Rangers.
Northwestern controlled overtime from start to finish. Free hit a three pointer to start the extra period before hitting a foul shot. The Rangers never trailed in overtime. White dunked with two minutes left in the game to send the score to 79-73. A White steal thrown in front to Parson for a fast-break dunk pushed the lead to 81-73. A second connective steal by the Rangers and a dunk by White pushed the lead to double digits at 83-73. The Rangers held the double digit lead the rest of the way as Douglas-Stanley foul shots followed by a Parsons layup finished out the win and a comeback victory over the rival.
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