ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – On a night where Henderson State filled a brand new starting lineup due to illness affecting several players, the Reddies came up inches short Thursday night against Northwestern Oklahoma State, 66-65.

Franck Kamgain recorded a game-high 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, five assists and three rebounds. Zyon Patterson and Tomislav Miholjcic backed him up with 10 points apiece, while Patterson added six rebounds and three steals.

Despite shooting 46.6 percent compared to Northwestern's 38.1 percent while also out-rebounding Northwestern 43-31, Henderson was bitten by 21 turnovers to NWOSU's 14. Because of that, the Rangers won the points-off-turnovers battle, 20-11.
 
On an evening where both teams saw nine lead changes, the Reddies came out with their new-look starting five and strung together eight of the first 11 points, including back-to-back buckets to begin play from Josh Mason, as they raced out to an 8-3 lead. Both teams enjoyed minor leads as the period continued on before HSU established an eight-point lead with 47 second remaining in the half, 31-23, before a late three brought the deficit to five at the break.
 
Henderson out-rebounded Northwestern 25-13 in the opening 20 minutes, seeing eight second-chance points compared to NWOSU's zero. Seven of those boards came from KJ Stewart, while Mason spearheaded the offensive output with nine points.

Northwestern opened the second half cutting the lead down to two or even tying it several times, only to have HSU regain its halftime advantage. With 12:51 left in regulation, the Rangers broke through with a pair of free-throws to go ahead, 41-40, before an 8-2 run from the visitors gave them their largest of the contest, 49-42.

It was NWOSU's turn to play keep-away with the lead, as the Reddies got within one possession several time before the Rangers extended it out for a 5-7 point advantage. At 62-55 in favor of Northwestern with three minutes remaining, HSU's push proved fruitful as an 8-0 run gave Henderson a one-point lead with 35 seconds left, 63-62.

In the last 35 seconds of the game, the game saw three lead changes as both squads used timely free-throws and clutch buckets to give their team hope. After Alvin Miles knocked down two free-throws to put the home team up 65-64 with 14 seconds left, a waning-seconds tip-in off a missed layup from NWOSU gave the Rangers the lead for what would be the final time. A last-second floater from Miles missed as the Rangers left with the 66-65 victory.

Henderson St. (7-6, 4-3) will remain in Arkadelphia when Southwestern Oklahoma State comes to the Duke Wells Center Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m.