SENATOBIA - A close battle in the first half eventually caved in for Northwest, as the Rangers were outscored 44-30 in the second half and fell behind by double digits down the stretch, falling 75-61 to Arkansas State Mid-South on Thursday evening.
It was the second loss in less than a week to the Greyhounds, who improved to 2-2 on the season. Northwest dropped to 1-3 overall, finishing the night at 34 percent from the floor.
Je'Marion Westbrook opened the game with a three-pointer for Arkansas State Mid-South, only for the Rangers to quickly tie things up off a layup and free throw from
Keanu Patrick. Later, the Greyhounds broke an 8-8 tie with a fastbreak layup from Westbrook and a Devonta Tucker layup, pulling ahead 12-8.
Both teams traded blows for most of the first half, earning several lead changes and ties. The Greyhounds took their largest lead of five late in the half, with another fastbreak layup from Westbrook, only for Northwest to rally back with a three-pointer from
Thomas Tangle and a dunk by
Devin Moore.
Shooting struggles haunted both teams to start the second half, with Northwest shooting just 35 percent from the floor and 1-of-7 from three-point range. Although the Greyhounds initially had trouble, the visitors eventually flipped the switch around the seven-minute mark, turning a three-point lead into a 12-point advantage.
Northwest trailed by double figures the rest of the way and was never able to sort out the shooting woes, as the Greyhounds pushed their second half shooting percentage to 46 percent. The Rangers were also haunted by a 54 percent mark from the free throw line, finishing 13-of-24, compared to an 88 percent effort from Arkansas State Mid-South.
Patrick led the Rangers with 14 points and six rebounds, finishing as the only Northwest player in double digits.
Ja'Quise Richmond provided a nine-point spark off the bench, while Moore and Tangle scored seven points each.
Shah Hall also managed five points and a team-high 11 rebounds in his Northwest debut.
Four players reached double figures for Arkansas State Mid-South, led by double-doubles from Westbrook (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Kyrin Dock (12 points, 10 rebounds). Jesse Washington and Samuel Chapin collected 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Dock also fell just shy of a triple-double for the Greyhounds, earning nine assists as well. Arkansas State Mid-South also finished the evening shooting 42 percent as a team.
Northwest will turn its attention to Holmes on Monday, November 13, a non-conference game against an MACCC opponent. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. from Howard Coliseum.
