WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Facing its toughest test to date in unbeaten Missouri State-West Plains, Northwest rallied from 18 down and cut it to a two possession game in the final two minutes before falling 94-86 Tuesday night at the West Plains Civic Center.

MSU-West Plains improved to 11-0, while Northwest suffered its first defeat to drop to 5-1 on the young season.

Northwest led for the game's first three minutes, with Jitaurious Gordon's 3-pointer and two Therrell Gosier II free throws pushing it to an early 5-2 lead.

The Grizzlies would settle in, however, and respond with a 17-3 run thanks to seven of Ricky Torres' 17 first-half points. 

Trailing by as many as 14 in the half, Northwest rallied to cut it to six on several occasions. Cameron Walker's steal and assist on the other end to a streaking Gosier on a dunk pulled the Rangers within 35-29 with 4:50 left. 

MSU-West Plains closed the half with 12 of the final 16 points to take a 47-33 lead. The Grizzlies shot a sizzling 63 percent (19-for-30) against 33 percent shooting for the Rangers.

Trailing 73-55 with 10:07 to play, Northwest put together a 19-6 run over the ensuing five minutes to make it a game late. 

Tremont Robinson got hot from downtown, scoring 15 points in the game's final 10 minutes, as the Rangers trailed 79-74.

MSU-West Plains then scored seven of the next eight points to extend its lead back to 86-75 with 2:38 to play, but Northwest scored 11 of the next 16 to pull within 91-86 with 41 ticks left. 

The Grizzlies were then able to salt away the clock at the free throw line to hold on for a 94-86 win.

Four Rangers finished in double figures, led by Gordon's 21 points, 17 from T. Robinson, 14 from Gosier and 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench from Miles Washington.

Torres had a game-high 31 points for West Plains in addition to double-doubles from Yannis Mendy and Radshad Davis.

The Grizzlies shot 58 percent for the game against 39 percent for Northwest. 

The Rangers return to action on Thursday, Nov. 30 against Tennessee Prep, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. at Howard Coliseum.