Box Score BOONEVILLE – Sophomore Tristan Moore scored a game-high 25, his third 20-point outing of the year, and Northwest led wire-to-wire in a 77-71 road win at Northeast Monday night.

Northwest won its third straight to improve to 10-7 overall and 6-2 in the north, and is just a half game back of first in the division standings. Northeast fell to 4-15 overall and 1-7. 

The Rangers jumped out to an early 20-7 lead at the 10:29-mark of the first half, highlighted by a steal and breakaway dunk from Gavin Robinson.

After a Tiger timeout, Northeast responded with a 10-2 run over the next 3 minutes and pulled within 22-17. Cannon Edwards' first of four 3-pointers of the night started the run that was capped by two free throws and a jumper by El Paso Johnson-Pitts. 

Northwest stretched the lead back to 32-21 minutes later on Dajon Reno's thunder dunk and went into the half leading 34-27.

Northeast pulled within one on three occasions in the second half, but each time the Rangers showed resilience and would maintain the lead. Rashon Coleman hit a 3-pointer to put Northwest up 69-59 with 3:14 to play.  

Leading 73-69 with 12.5 ticks left and the Tigers at the line after a hard foul, Northeast head coach Cord Wright was hit with a technical foul which helped seal the win for Northwest after a pair of free throws.

Moore hit six straight from the charity stripe in the final seconds and finished 12-for-12 from the line for the game. As a team, Northwest was 21-for-25 for 82 percent.  

Northeast outshot Northwest 50 to 45 percent on the night and had four of its five starters in double figures, led by Al Azulphar with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Rangers scored 16 points off 17 Tiger turnovers and had a season-low eight themselves.  

Northwest returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Itawamba. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. in Fulton.

Live video at www.ustream.tv/channel/icc-basketball and live stats at sidearmstats.com/northwestms/mbball.