SCOOBA – It was evident a 26-point home loss to EMCC back on Jan. 25 was still fresh on the minds of the Northwest Rangers Thursday night at Keyes Currie Coliseum.

Playing with phenomenal energy all game, the Rangers returned the favor at EMCC on the Lions' sophomore night, handing the home team a 76-61 defeat.

Northwest used a 13-2 run to take a 10-point first-half lead, 25-15, with Seth LeDay's thunderous dunk off a Chris Cooper assist sending the Ranger bench into a frenzy. 

Tyrin Jones scored 10 of his game-high 20 points in the first half and finished with his first career double-double, adding 11 rebounds. 

Northwest held EMCC to 36 percent shooting while shooting a solid 50 percent themselves and led 44-33 at the break.

Keelin Jackson's 3-pointer 53 seconds into the second half stretched the Ranger lead to 14 before the Lions got it going offensively.

EMCC strung together a 17-7 run to pull within four, with Juan Davis Jr. scoring four straight to end the run. 

The Rangers immediately responded with a run of their own and put the game out of reach. Northwest outscored the Lions 20-5 the ensuing 6:38 to stretch its lead to a game-high 19 points.

Behind Jones' 20 points, Jackson finished with 15 points and seven boards and LeDay closed with 10. Juan Davis Jr.'s 21 points and 15 boards led the Lions.

Northwest has clinched the No. 2 seed in the north and will play the south's No. 3 seed-Southwest Mississippi on Monday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. in the MACJC Tournament Quarterfinals in Fulton.