ALVA – The Rangers' men's basketball team continued the hot stretch since the new year with a 79-67 victory over the Reddies for the fourth straight win. Northwestern took the lead late in the first half and led the whole way in the second half before closing out the 12-point victory over the Reddies.

Northwestern Oklahoma State improves to 7-7 on the season with a 5-3 conference record following the victory.

The Rangers were led by Camron McDowell with 23 points after shooting six of eight including four three pointers. He was one of three double figure scorers joined by Kennedy Milton with 13 and Brian Free with 13. Larry White led the team with eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

First Half

Kennedy Milton hit a three pointer to open the scoring assisted by Marquise Milton for a 3-0 lead. The Rangers defense held the Reddies scoreless for the first three minutes of the game before Zyon Patterson put them on the board with a put back layup. Northwestern went four minutes without a point before Milton scored his fifth point on a jump off a Butters rebound. Free hit a three to follow for five straight points for the Rangers and an 8-3 lead. The run ended at 7-0 after going up 10-3, which after Southern Nazarene cut it to 10-7 Northwestern answered right back. A Brian Free three pointer followed by a McDowell three-point play to go up nine at 16-7.

Henderson State cut into the Ranger lead at the halfway point of the first half as the lead was cut to two at 18-16 following an offensive rebound put back dunk by Chase Farmer. Marquise Milton silenced the Reddies' run with a three pointer for a 22-16 lead. The Reddies answered, bringing the Ranger lead down to one. Henderson State grabbed their first lead of the game at 23-22 with 6:32 left in the opening half before extending it to four following a Patterson three pointer. Northwestern answered with a 9-0 run started by six straight from Larry White and a three pointer by Marquise Milton who hit back-to-back three pointers. Northwestern led 34-28 with 3:17 left in the half.

The Rangers carried a 40-36 lead into the halftime break following a three pointer by the Reddies.

Second Half

Rangers came out in the second half with four straight points as Kennedy Milton hit a jump shot followed by Kabeya Tshibangu layup. Free continued the fast start to the second half with a three pointer, his ninth point of the game for a 47-38. Free hit his second straight pushing the lead back into double digits. Northwestern maintained the 10-point lead as McDowell hit a three pointer and Jabiri Smith three pointer answering a string of Reddies three pointers.

The closest the Reddies were able to cut the Ranger lead down to was five at 66-61 following a Chase Farmer layup before Kennedy Milton started a quick run to get it back to a 10 point lead. McDowell followed with a three pointer as Northwestern led 74-63.

Northwestern closed out the 79-67 victory over the Reddies as McDowell put the game away with two foul shots for the fourth straight victory.

The Rangers were to be back in action on Thursday afternoon traveling for a match up with Arkansas Tech in Russellville.