SHAWNEE – Northwestern Oklahoma State (14-10, 12-6 GAC) erased a late five-point deficit to defeat Oklahoma Baptist 81-76 inside the Noble Complex on Saturday night. OBU held the advantage for most of the second period but saw a determined NWOSU squad crawl back and build a lead as far as five before the game's end.
OBU finished shooting 43.5 percent, slightly better than the Rangers' 43.1 percent clip from the floor. Oklahoma Baptist improved its shooting percentage from 38.7 percent in the inaugural half to 48.4 in the closing stanza.
Additionally, the Bison knocked down nine triples for a second straight night. They converted 39.1 percent of their attempts from range. However, 18 turnovers plagued the home team down the stretch, the most miscues since their last meeting with Rangers in December (20). Conversely, NWOSU committed 11 turnovers.
The Bison have lost three of its last four games by five points or less, as tonight's loss moves the green and gold to 10-14 (7-11 GAC).
LEADERS
Ricky Brown scored a game-high 20 points on 6-of-15 (40.0%) shooting and netted five triples at a 41.6 percent rate.
Terry Coner Jr.'s 19-point outing featured a 46.1 percent field-goal mark (6-13) and a trio of threes. Coner also pulled down five rebounds and tied for the team-high in free throw makes (4).
Daniel Ransom and Trevin Wade recorded 11 and 10 points, respectively. Ransom added seven boards while Wade dished out six assists.
Nathan Wilson flirted with a double-double, pairing eight points with 10 rebounds. It was his seventh game with 10 boards this season.
Joshua Udoumoh pitched in eight points and five rebounds.
FIRST HALF
A cold shooting start for the Bison yielded an early 7-0 NWOSU advantage after three minutes of work. Northwestern extended its lead to 10 points, 17-7, before Oklahoma Baptist stormed back.
The Bison mounted a 16-9 run to come within one with more than eight minutes remaining. OBU shot 4-of-4 from range during the sprint.
NWOSU finally gave the reins up at 4:40, following a three-point basket from Brown. Oklahoma Baptist stayed out in front for two minutes before the opposition retook the lead and carried a one-point, 37-36 advantage into the break.
SECOND HALF
After trading buckets for 10 minutes, a Brown triple ignited a subtle run that left Northwestern down by seven, 65-58.
The good fortune stood a short while as two free throws from Cam McDowell granted NWOSU the lead with nearly three minutes on the clock.
OBU got ahead once more, by one (69-68), but couldn't slow the Rangers down late.
NEXT UP
Part two of OBU's four-game homestand continues next Thursday against Southern Arkansas. The contest is slated for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
