Box Score Northwestern Oklahoma State knocked off Fort Hays State in non-conference play on Saturday (Nov. 17) by a score of 70-68. Fort Hays State was unable to box out on a missed free-throw with a 68-67 lead and NWOSU got the ball back and was fouled. The Rangers buried a pair of free-throws that would be the decisive points with 19 seconds remaining.

Fort Hays State came down the court trailing by one after the pair of free-throws by Jonathan Freemyer of NWOSU, but Craig Nicholson mishandled the ball at the top of the key turning it over to the Rangers. Eze Akwari buried one more free-throw with six seconds left, but missed the second. A Nicholson 3-point field goal attempt at the buzzer missed just long and allowed the Rangers to escape Hays with the stunning victory.

Fort Hays State trailed at the half 30-28 after leading by as many as six before the break. The Tigers regained the lead early in the second half, but the Rangers jumped back in front at the 17:13 mark showing that they were not going to go away quietly.

FHSU had to fight an uphill climb once NWOSU went on an 8-0 run to take a 50-42 lead with 11:12 remaining, but the Tigers put together a furious 12-3 run from the 9:29 to 7:06 mark to regain the lead by one, 56-55. After the Rangers pulled ahead by four again, FHSU had a quick burst to tie the game again at 60-60 with 5:13 remaining. The teams traded two points all the way to Dwayne Brunson getting a tip-in for the Tigers with 48 seconds remaining to put FHSU back on top 68-66. From that point, the Rangers would find the way to sneak out of Hays with the win.

The Rangers were able to stay in the game late as they went directly at Fort Hays State's big men, eventually fouling both out. Jonathan Freemyer scored a team-leading 20 points for NWOSU, including seven of his team's final 10 points down the stretch. Marshall Bell added 13 points for the Rangers.

Dwayne Brunson led the Tigers with his second double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The 22 ties his season high, which he set in the previous game against Bethany College. He committed the foul that put Freemyer at the line with the Tigers leading 68-66 with 23 seconds left. The Rangers were also able to foul out Rundell Mauge on the inside for FHSU, who finished with just two points and four rebounds.

Ben Congiusta tied his career high of 15 points with three 3-point field goals and three buckets inside the arc. Lance Russell also reached double figures with 13 points. Craig Nicholson had a team-high nine assists.

Fort Hays State outshot Northwestern Oklahoma 49 percent to 46.3 percent, but 20 turnovers were killer for the Tigers. NWOSU outscored FHSU on points off turnovers 24-17. NWOSU also dominated points in the paint with the Tiger foul trouble with 40 points inside. Free-throws were also a glaring issue for the Tigers throughout the afternoon, starting the game out 2-of-8 before warming to 60.9 percent for the game (14-of-23). The lead changed hands 10 times in the game and there were 12 ties within the course of the game.