Box Score
The Ranger men's basketball team has suffered a couple of heart-breaking losses on the road this season. The team has been nipped at the wire at Drury and at Findlay. Those teams are currently ranked No. 7 and No. 9 in the country respectively. But, Thursday night at Southern Indiana was a different story.
Southern Indiana who, like the Rangers, has been in the top 25 in the NCAA Division II poll this season, saw a spirited effort from its guests and UW-Parkside left Evansville, Indiana, with a 72-65 victory. It was only the second time ever that a UW-Parkside team has won at Southern Indiana and only the seventh time in 28 all-time games.
"We're getting close," UW-Parkside head coach Luke Reigel told WRJN radio after the game. "We had some guys step up tonight and the encouraging thing is we can still play better."
The loss for the Screaming Eagles snapped a seven-game winning streak. Southern Indiana is now 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Rangers improved to 9-4 and 2-3.
UW-Parkside led for most of the first half, by as many as seven at 21-14 at its greatest margin. The score stood at 36-30 at halftime.
The teams traded baskets for the first 10 minutes of the first half before the Screaming Eagles came charging back. The home team surpassed the Rangers and grabbed a 53-52 lead with 7:13 to go on a three-pointer by Darren Cloud, who would can another three-ball just 30 seconds later.
The game saw its fifth and final tie with 3:19 left in the contest. From there, the Rangers played from the lead. Kyle Clark hit a jumper to put his team up. Kyle Jeffery was clutch, making good on a three-pointer and a conventional bucket down the stretch.
Tyrone Deacon led a balanced attack, as evidenced by the fact the team's leading scorer in the game had just 12 points. Three others dented double digits including 11 each from Mike Bendall and Dave Keane. LaVontay Fenderson chipped in 10 points. Jeffery and Brad Ferstenou had nine points apiece.
Dayton transfer Norman Plummer, who averages a double-double, had a monster game with 20 points and 18 rebounds.
The Rangers will look for the road sweep against another formidible foe, when they travel to Kentucky Wesleyan for a date with the Panthers Saturday, Jan. 12, at 3:15 p.m.
