SENATOBIA – Sophomore Mark Partee hit two clutch free throws with 8 seconds left in regulation to lift Northwest to an 81-80 win over previously-unbeaten Arkansas Baptist Monday night.

Northwest won its fifth straight game to move to 5-1 while Arkansas Baptist fell to 6-1. The Rangers have now won seven of the last nine over the Buffaloes.

Northwest led for all but 1:10 in the first half after conceding the opening basket of the game. Dre'Kalo Clayton put Northwest on the board with one of his four 3-pointers of the night.

Trailing by one at the 15:42-mark, Northwest put together a 9-0 run to take its largest lead of the half at 16-8. Baskets by Seth LeDay and Tyrin Jones sparked the run, capped by Shelby McEwen's 3-pointer from the wing.

The teams went back-and-forth the final 10 minutes before Clayton's layup gave the Rangers a 39-34 lead at half.

A 10-2 run out of the break put Northwest on top by a game-high 13 points. A 3-pointer from Clayton and five straight free throws from Partee put the Rangers on top 49-36.

But ABC would come firing back with a run of its own to pull ahead by five. The Buffaloes erased a 13-point deficit with a 25-7 run over the next 7 minutes. A 3-pointer from Ruston Hawyard sparked the run, a stretch of seven consecutive points for him, to give the Buffaloes a 61-56 lead.

The teams stayed within a basket or two of each other the ensuing 5 minutes and ABC was able to jump ahead 76-74 with 3:34 to play after a 3-pointer from Stevie Clark.

Trailing the remainder of the game, Northwest was able stay close enough to have a chance in the game's final seconds.

Partee hit a free throw with 1:14 left to pull Northwest within 80-77 and Jones made it 80-79 with a pair of free throws with 36 seconds to play.

After a missed layup from Kaanan Jackson, Partee was fouled driving to the rim with 8 ticks left. Partee then calmly hit two of his 13 free throws on the evening to give Northwest the win. 

Four Rangers finished in double figures, led by LeDay's 23 points and 13 rebounds. Jones followed with 21 while Clayton added 14 and Partee finished with 13 points and seven assists.

Northwest will host Lawson State (4-2) on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. Tune in at www.nwccrangers.com/watch.