ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University men were unable to overcome hot shooting by Henderson State on the road Thursday as the Rangers dropped a Great American Conference contest in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 85-73.
It was a back-and-forth game through the first half as neither team was able to take a lead more than five points. In the first stanza, Northwestern had the lead over 14 minutes of the first 20 minutes, taking a 42-41 advantage into the break.
The tone was set for a good shooting half by freshman Andrew Clopton out of the game as he drilled a three pointer on the first possession for the Rangers.
With 10:23 remaining in the first, the Rangers had its largest lead of the half, and ultimately the game, when Treyvon Andres put in a fastbreak layup, followed by a pair of free throws 30-seconds later to give the Rangers a 20-15 advantage.
After the Reddies scored seven straight to take a two-point lead, Jack Peck weaved through the lane for a layup to knot the game up at 22. The home team again retook the lead, but A.J. Jones got to the rim for a layup and Cody Jones came off a screen and popped a three on the next possession to make it a four-point game yet again.
Andres led Northwestern with 16 points, Clopton tied his season and career high with 13 points while Peck and Cole Jones had 13 points as well.
In the final seconds of the first half, A.J. Jones sent the game into the break in style with an acrobatic layup to give the Rangers a 42-41 lead heading to the locker rooms. The game saw 10 lead changes and ties in the first half.
Much like he did to start the game, Clopton put up the first basket of the second with a put back layup. However, the Reddies took a brief lead to start swinging momentum back their way.
Over the next several minutes of action, the Rangers were playing catch up as they tied the game four times in five minutes, including on a three-point basket from Andres to tie the game at 53 with 13:57 to go.
The Reddies quickly answered and took a six point lead with 12:56 to go. HSU held on to as much as a 16 point lead with four minute remaining before Cole Jones hit a three, Peck converted a pair free-throws and Clopton added a fastbreak layup for a 7-0 run.
After Henderson stretched its lead again, Cole Jones put in another long range shot from the top of the key to bring the score to a single digit game with 1:37 left on the clock. But it wouldn’t be enough as the Reddies answered any push the Rangers had for the ultimate outcome.
The Rangers forced the Reddies into 16 turnovers, 13 of which were recorded as Ranger takeaways. A.J. Jones led the way with five steals.
NWOSU (3-10, 1-6) will be back in action Saturday afternoon with a date with Ouachita Baptist. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the OBU campus in Arkadelphia.
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