Alva Review-Courier -

ALVA – Northwestern Oklahoma State men's basketball team won their third straight game Thursday evening with a 68-52 victory over the Tigers. Northwestern never trailed in the game after starting with the game's first seven points of the game.

The third straight victory improves Northwestern to 6-7 on the season with a 4-3 conference record.

Northwestern was led by Camron McDowell and Kennedy Milton as the two players hit double figures in scoring. McDowell led the way with 16 and Milton with his season-high of 14 while adding three steals defensively.

First Half

The matchup started very much with a defensive battle as Northwestern forced four turnovers before allowing a point. After a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought for both teams to start the game, Kennedy Milton broke the scoreless streak with a steal setting up his own fast break dunk. On the pursuing position Milton forced another steal, this time setting up a dunk by Kabeya Tshibangu for an early 4-0 lead.

The Rangers led 8-0 with 14:51 left in the half before Ouachita scored their first point of the game both coming from the foul line as the Rangers lead cut to 8-2. The Tigers did not score their first field goal until the 13:21 mark of the half as Northwestern led 10-4. However, McDowell answered back right away his next time down the court, drilling a three pointer and pushing the lead to nine.

A Larry White three pointer kept the game at nine and found double digits for the first time after a block by Larry White led to a layup by McDowell and a 20-9 lead for the Rangers, with 6:38 remaining in the half. The Tigers, though, quickly answered going on a 9-0 run that cut their deficit; the Rangers' lead was down to two points at 20-18 and 4:11 to play in the half.

McDowell silenced the Tigers, though, scoring the next five points and building the lead back to seven. Northwestern held a 28-22 advantage following a Larry White layup in the final minute heading into halftime.

Second Half

In the second half the Tigers were the first to strike but only cutting the Ranger lead down to three as Kennedy Milton put the Rangers back in front two possessions, scoring six straight for the Rangers and eventually growing the lead back to nine at 34-25 at the first media timeout of the second half.

The lead grew back to double digit with 12 minutes remaining in the game after a three pointer by Brian Free gave the Rangers a 40-28 lead over the Tigers. Jabiri Smith hit a three at the top of the key as well; he gave Northwestern the largest lead of the day so far at 43-28, before Marquise Milton hit the Rangers' third straight three pointer.

The largest lead of the game was 20 points at 48-28 after Kennedy Milton hit a jump shot just inside the paint. Northwestern continued to maintain the double-digit lead.

Ouachita Baptist and the Rangers traded baskets as the lead stayed consistently over 10 – the closest being nine for a quick possession before Free hit a couple of foul shots with three minutes remaining.

The Rangers closed the win out at the foul line, hitting eight foul shots in the final two minutes. The Rangers won 68-52 for the third straight game.