SENATOBIA – Northwest rallied from a 10-point first half deficit to knock off defending region champion Northeast, 99-86, Thursday night at Howard Coliseum, using six scorers in double figures and forcing 14 Tiger turnovers in the second half to complete the comeback victory.

Still stinging from last year's 75-73 semifinal loss in the region tournament that cost the Rangers a national tournament berth, Northwest took the first step in payback in what's shaping up to be a great annual rivalry.

Northeast (9-4, 1-1) couldn't miss in the first half, shooting 56 percent from the floor and using 11 points from standout Leroy Buchanan to take a 49-46 lead at the half.

The Tigers never trailed the first 20 minutes, scoring the game's first eight points and building their lead to as many as 10.

Five points from Dakota Dailey in the final 30 seconds of the first half seemed to give Northwest (8-3, 1-1) momentum heading into the locker room and the second half was an entirely different story.

Isaiah Austin scored seven straight points for Northwest and Therrell Gosier II's fastbreak dunk pulled the Rangers within 57-55 three minutes in.

After forcing back-to-back Tiger turnovers, Brandon Cranford knocked down a 3-pointer and then added a pair of free throws to give the Rangers their first lead of the game, 63-62, with 14:57 to play.

Northeast quickly responded with an 8-0 run to stretch its lead back out to 70-63 but the turning point of the game came minutes later.

A tough and-one from Austin in the paint, followed by 3-pointers from Keelin Jackson and Dante Sterling shifted all the momentum in the Rangers' favor.

Another monster dunk from Gosier capped a 25-11 spurt over a seven-minute stretch and Northwest was able to cruise to the finish line for an impressive 13-point victory.

Northwest owned a 20-5 edge in points off turnovers in the second half and outscored the Tigers by 14 at the free throw line.

Sterling had 15 of his game-high 23 in the second half. Jackson added 18 points and eight rebounds, followed by Austin's 13 points and 10 boards, 11 apiece from Dailey and Cranford and 10 from Gosier.

Northeast was paced by 17 from Darius Williams to lead five Tigers in double figures.

Northwest will return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m., playing host to Holmes (7-6, 1-1). Bryan Fenley will have the call at nwccrangers.com/watch.