Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Northwest rallied from an 18-point second half deficit to make it a game late, but host Arkansas Baptist used 61 bench points and five scorers in double figures to hold off the Rangers, 97-91, Thursday night.

Arkansas Baptist improved to 9-5 on the year while Northwest fell to 6-5. The teams split the season series 1-1 but the Rangers still lead the all-time series 8-4. 

In a hard-fought contest from both teams, the Buffaloes took an 81-63 lead with 10:59 to play and looked poised to run out of the gym with a blowout win. 

But the Rangers turned up their defensive pressure and full-court press and forced four straight ABC turnovers to slowly climb back in the game. Northwest went inside and scored six consecutive layups to pull within 86-79 as part of a 16-5 run. 

Northwest clawed all the way back within four, 93-89, with 43 seconds remaining on Dajon Reno's 3-pointer but couldn't get any closer. The Rangers had several steals down the stretch but weren't able to score points on the opposite end. 

Short-handed the first go-around in Senatobia on Nov. 14, ABC had a full roster this time in Little Rock and it showed. Antonio Simmons (19 points, 11 rebounds), James Parker (18), Fred Albright (14) and Elijah Young (10) all scored in double figures and didn't dress against the Rangers the first meeting. 

De'Sean Dockery and Reno each finished with 18 for Northwest, followed by 16 points from McGee and 13 from Tristan Moore. Rashon Coleman added eight points, seven assists and six rebounds in addition to eight points from Aston Morton. 

ABC shot 50 percent on the night against 48 percent shooting for Northwest. The Buffaloes owned the rebounding edge 48-35 and outscored the Rangers' bench 61-28.

Northwest returns to Howard Coliseum on Monday, Jan. 13 when they play host to Itawamba at 7 p.m.

Live video at njcaatv.com/nwccrangers and live stats at sidearmstats.com/northwestms/mbball.