NW Oklahoma News

Harding edged out the Rangers 79-74 Saturday afternoon to split the season series against the Rangers. Northwestern tied the game at 70-70 on a Brian Free three pointer before Harding closed the game on a 9-4 run.

Malik Parsons led the Rangers with 26 points in the afternoon followed by Larry White with 22 points.

Harding jumped out first with a three pointer from Santiago taking an early 3-0 lead before two foul shots made it 5-0. Larry White put the Rangers on the board with two points of an offensive put-back layup. A three pointer by White quickly tied the game at 5-5 just over two minutes into the game. Currie scored six straight for the Bisons taking a 11-7 lead over the Rangers. With Harding holding a 14-12 lead the defenses picked up forcing both teams into a three minute scoring drought before Harding buried a three pointer for a 17-12 lead over the Rangers with 10:21 remaining in the half. Parsons answered with a layup but a back to back three pointer by Harding pushed the Ranger deficit to eight at 22-14.

White forced a steal finishing the fast-break layup but Harding answered with four straight points to open a nine point lead at 26-17 with 6:44 left to play. Currie pushed their lead to double digits for the first time at 5:15 left in the first half as it was 28-17 Harding. Deatrick Pashell ended the run for his first points of the game starting a quick run by the Rangers bringing the deficit back to four points at 28-24 after foul shots by Parsons. Smithson ended the Ranger run pushing it back to six. A quick Harding run pushed the Bisons back to a double digit lead at 38-28. A White three pointer cut the deficit back to single digits but a Santiago three pointer with four seconds left in the half pushed the Harding halftime lead to 43-33.

Out of the halftime break Northwestern had a three pointer go down from Brian Free his first points of the game for a 43-36. Harding continued to push the pressure on the Rangers pushing the lead back to 11 points. Free hit his second three pointer of the half trying to help the Rangers back into the game. Parsons closed off a dunk cutting the deficit to eight points.

Harding continued to hold a 10 point lead at 53-43 before the Rangers closed the gap. Free hit a three pointer followed by a Parsons layup off the fast-break as Northwestern cut the deficit to five points at 53-48 with 16:15 left to play in the game. Rangers continued to chip away as Parsons stole the ball and cut the deficit to two on back to back layup opportunities as the Rangers trailed 58-56 with 12:29 left to play. Parsons then tied the game for the first time since the opening half for a 58-58 tie game. Harding answered back with eight straight points to regain the 66-58 lead as the Rangers still did not lead.

White sparked another Ranger run with a three before two foul shots had Northwestern back within four. Eric Hancik then finished off a layup of a steal before Marquise Milton and Brian Free hit back to back three pointers to tie the game at 70-70. Northwestern had their first lead at 72-70 with just two minutes left to play. However Henderson then knocked down a three pointer giving Harding the lead at 73-72. White hit a layup cutting the deficit back to one after Harding foul shots.

The Bisons closed the game off the foul line hitting four straight from the line to close out a 79-75 lead over the Rangers.

Northwestern will be back in action on Thursday afternoon against Southern Nazarene with a 7:30 tip-off before closing out with a home game against Southeastern.

Original source can be found here