ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - At exactly 60 percent shooting on the night, the red-hot Reddies claimed a much-needed victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State Thursday night inside the Duke Wells Center, 96-88.

Henderson State was equally as efficient in both periods, shooting 60.7 percent in the first 20 minutes before closing out the latter 20 at 59.3 percent. Even with the high shooting rate, both teams made 33 field-goals and nine three-pointers, but HSU made eight more free-throws than NWOSU.

In addition to the scoring of the basketball, the Reddies also doubled up the Rangers on the glass, out-rebounding them 38-19, including the red-and-gray posting 13 offensive rebounds to NWOSU's four.

Clarence King matched his season-high with 26 points off the bench on just nine field-goal attempts, including going 14-of-17 from the free-throw line. Thursday was the Kansas City, Mo., native's first time to score in double figures since Jan. 18 against Southeastern Oklahoma State. That was also HSU's last victory prior to tonight.

Three other Reddies scored in double-figures as Tim McDonald (17), Malek Davis (16) and Zyon Patterson (13) backed up King for the big Thursday-night victory. Davis added seven assists to go with his performance.

A back-and-forth first half showed eight lead changes between the two squads. Neither team held a bigger lead than four through the opening 13 minutes of game time. Henderson opened it up to a six-point lead thanks to back-to-back Rece Hipp triples, but consecutive threes from the visitors brought it back to a one-point game.

With it being Northwestern's turn to hold a one-point advantage at the 2:03 mark before halftime, the Reddies closed the half on an 8-3 run to take a 44-40 lead into the locker room. That lead the Ranger's had sported two minutes prior would be their last lead.

Unlike the first half, Henderson State never relinquished hold of the advantage in the second frame. Seven and a half minutes into the frame, HSU established the largest lead of the game on either side up to that point at 61-52 before a Davis three moments later extended the advantage to 10, 64-54.

Northwestern was able to mount a mini run that cut the margin to two with 10:35 on the clock, but an immediate 10-point spurt from Henderson, six of which came from McDonald, re-established a 12-point lead, 76-64.

Over the course of the next six minutes, the Reddies would make nine consecutive field-goals as the lead was never in doubt the rest of the way. Henderson left Duke Wells with the 96-88 victory, snapping its five-game losing streak and staying alive in the race for the GAC Tournament.

Henderson St. (7-13, 6-9 GAC) will look to string a couple wins together come Saturday when Southwestern Oklahoma State enters the Duke Wells Center for the 3 p.m. tip.