Box Score

 The No. 1 team in the country in NCAA Division II men's basketball flexed its muscle at the DeSimone Gymnasium Monday night. The Oilers of the University of Findlay, now 9-0, defeated UW-Parkside, 88-74. The Ranger record fell to 3-7.

The Rangers lost a tight 64-60 contest at Findlay last year, a season after being ousted by the Oilers in the first round of the NCAA tournament in another close contest.

UW-Parkside last defeated a No. 1 ranked team when it pounded Indianapolis, 63-45, at the DeSimone Gymnasium, during the 1996-97 season.

Findlay jumped on the Rangers early, taking a 10-2 lead in front of 1,132 fans. The Oilers shot 68 percent from the floor in the first half, making good on 21 of its 31 attempts, three of which came from behind the arc. A stingy Oiler defense set the pace, forcing tough shots and 11 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

 The Oilers held a commanding 47-28 lead at intermission.

With a never-say-die spirit, the Rangers battled back to within 80-67 as LaVontay Fenderson hit one of two free throws with 4:50 left. A hot shooting Oiler club then closed out the contest.

 Fenderson had 32 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Ranger effort.

 Pre-season NCAA Division II national Player of the Year Josh Bostic notched 24 points for Findlay.

UW-Parkside returns to Great Lakes Valley Conference action with a pair of road games on tap for this weekend. The team will play at Missouri-St. Louis Friday at 5:30 p.m. and then will travel across the Show-Me State to Kansas City to tangle with Rockhurst in a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. Both games can be heard live locally on WRJN 1400AM and worldwide on the internet by selecting 'Game Day' at the top right-hand portion of this page and selecting 'live audio.'