BOONEVILLE – Northwest rallied from a 17-point second half deficit and got within a single possession in the game's final seconds, but it wasn't enough Monday night as the host Northeast Tigers held on for a 95-92 win at Bonner Arnold Coliseum.

Northeast evened its season record to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the north while Northwest dropped to 5-3 overall and also 1-1 in division action. 

In a back-and-forth first half that saw neither team lead by more than five, Northeast took a 40-37 lead into the lockerroom thanks to a monster half by Tyler Brunson. Northeast shot 43 percent in the frame, led by Brunson who was 8 of 10 for 18 points.

Northeast opened the second half on a 23-9 spurt to take a 63-46 lead with 12:18 remaining.

Head coach Bubba Skelton then subbed in a fresh five for some added intensity and the unit responded with a small run to pull with 79-70 with just over 5 minutes to play.

Kenyatta Jones, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half, scored 10 straight points to pull the lead within eight, and Domonique Harris added a basket and free throw to make it 89-84 with 59.6 to play.

Clutch free throws by Jones then made it a single possession game with under 20 seconds to play.   

Trailing by three with one last chance to tie and force overtime, Harris' 3-point attempt from the right wing was deflected after a ton of contact and the attempt fell feet short of the rim as time expired.

Northeast won the game by pounding the ball inside and scored 64 of its 95 points in the paint.

Harris led all Rangers with 23 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench while DeMarcus McVay chipped in his fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 boards.

Brunson led all scorers with 27 points while three other Tigers finished in double figures.

Northwest returns to Howard Coliseum on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. against East Central.

Live video www.ihigh.com/nwccrangers and stats www.sidearmstats.com/northwestms/mbball available.