MBB GAME NOTES: VERSUS NORTHWESTERN - JANUARY 11, 2025

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. –Tied for first in the conference, the Reddies look to stay atop the standings against Northwestern Oklahoma State in the Duke Wells Center at 3 p.m.
 
The Reddies currently sit tied for first in the conference with Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist at 6-1. Henderson State has the second longest win streak in the conference with wins against Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello and Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Reddies are the only GAC team this season to win four straight road games to begin the campaign.
 
Against Southwestern on Thursday, HSU was fueled by a dominant second half. As a team, Jimmy Elgas's squad shot 71.9 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from three on their way to outscoring the Bulldogs by 11 points. Against the Bulldogs, the Reddies won the battles for rebounds (34-27), points in the paint (48-36), second chance points (17-6), fastbreak points (15-3), and bench points (24-16). With the win versus the Bulldogs, Henderson surpassed its win total from a season ago. 
 
The Reddies currently have seven players averaging seven or more points per game, with Nehikhare Igiehon leading the team with 13.2 points per game while shooting 58.5 percent from the field. During conference play, Matthew Mayes is averaging three steals per game. Mayes was named GAC Defensive Player of the Week after posting five steals and two blocks against UAM.
 
HSU is 12-10 all-time against Northwestern, and the Reddies won the previous meeting at home last season by a score of 96-88. Tim McDonald scored 17 points on 7-10 shooting versus the Rangers in that game.
 
Northwestern enters the Duke Wells Center 6-7 overall and 3-4 in conference. The Rangers are led by two of the most prolific scorers in Division II. Cam McDowell and Max Alexander combine for 48.7 points per game of the team's 77.5 points per game. McDowell scored a season high 41 points versus Arkansas Tech in a 14-point win. The team's third leading scorer, DaRaun Clark, averages just 8.6 points per game.
 
In their last outing versus Ouachita Baptist, McDowell and Alexander combined for 56 of the team's 70 points in a loss to the Tigers. As a team, Northwestern shot just 23.8 percent from three and scored just 28 points in the paint.
 
In the paint, the Rangers are being outrebounded by four boards per game. NWOSU is also shooting just 43.6 percent from the field.
 
The Rangers are led by head coach Robbie Harman, who is in his third season as head coach for Northwestern. Harman has an overall record of 36-35 and led the Rangers to a semifinals appearance in the GAC Tournament a season ago.
 
Players to Watch:
Nehikhare Igiehon is currently top 45 in the nation in field goal percentage at 58.5 percent and leads the Reddies in scoring with 13.2 ppg.
 
Star freshman Rondae Hill scored 18 points against Southwestern, leading the Reddies to first in the conference.
 
Tip-off is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Duke Wells Center as the Reddies look to make it four straight victories in conference.