SENATOBIA – Freshman Therrell Gosier's career-high 20 points and 14 rebounds paced four Rangers in double figures as Northwest held off a feisty East Mississippi squad, 85-79, Thursday night at Howard Coliseum.
Northwest improved to 12-5 overall and 5-2 in the north (tied-first), while EMCC dropped to 6-10 overall and 2-5 in the division.
The Rangers led for all but 11 minutes on the night, but a 9-2 Lion run over the final 2:07 of the first half gave the visitors a 39-37 lead.
Dakota Dailey and
Isaiah Austin combined for nine of the Rangers' first 11 points as Northwest jumped out to a 13-4 lead early.
EMCC quickly responded with a 10-2 run, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from David McFarland who scored eight straight for the Lions.
Northwest's lead stayed around a basket for the final 10 minutes of the half before EMCC rallied to take their first lead with 50 seconds left in the half.
EMCC maintained a small lead for the ensuing 7:49 before Northwest rallied to tie the game at 53-53 with 12:11 to play.
Ill'yan Scott was whistled for his fourth foul and was immediately hit with a technical for his fifth foul, which gave Northwest some momentum.
Brandon Cranford and Gosier knocked down four consecutive free throws and the Rangers scored 10 of the next 13 points.
Leading 62-60 with 8:01 to play, Northwest started to create some distance from the Lions, using a pair of dunks from
Shelby McEwen and five straight from Dailey to jumpstart an 18-9 run.
Alex Shepard's poster dunk on the baseline with two minutes left was the icing on the cake.
Gosier's second career double-double led Northwest in the scoring column, followed by Dailey's 18 points, 12 from
Keelin Jackson and 10 from McEwen. McFarland led EMCC with 19.
Northwest will hit the road next week, traveling to Northeast on Monday and Holmes on Thursday.
