BOONEVILLE – Despite career nights from sophomores Jitaurious Gordon and Alec Rayburn, the 23rd-ranked Northeast Tigers were able to fend off the Rangers with a 22-point overtime period to hang on for a 112-101 victory Thursday night at Bonner Arnold Coliseum. 

Northeast improved to 17-3 overall, 7-2 in the north division, while Northwest dropped to 11-8 and 4-5 in division play.

Northwest trailed by as many as 14 with 14:03 to play, but mounted a comeback with eight straight points from Quez Williamson, Nick Edwards and Rayburn to close to within six.

Williamson's jumper with 5:35 left gave the Rangers a brief 77-76 lead before Northeast eventually pushed back in front 90-84 with 34 seconds left.

Rayburn nailed one of his five 3-pointers on the night and then Gordon would connect on an NBA 3-pointer to tie the game with 5 seconds left and force overtime.

The teams traded 3's by Jordan Temple and Kendrick Fountain to open the extra period, but the Tigers forced five Ranger turnovers and were just too much down the stretch with 11 of the game's final 13 points for the win.

Northeast was 7-for-7 in overtime to finish the game at 49 percent shooting against 42 for Northwest.

Gordon's 36 points and nine assists, both new career-highs, was followed by 17 from Rayburn and Williamson and 12 points and nine boards from Fountain.

Northeast was paced by Temple's 23 and 21 points and seven rebounds from DeAnthony Tipler off the bench.

Northwest will welcome East Mississippi and Mississippi Delta to Howard Coliseum next Monday and Thursday to close the regular season home slate.