KENOSHA, Wis – The Parkside Men's Basketball team improved to 2-0 in conference play on Saturday as they defeated the Northern Michigan Wildcats inside De Simone Arena. This marks the first time the Parkside Men's Basketball team has started 2-0 in conference play since they joined the GLIAC. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sophomore Rasheed Bello finished with a double-double after scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds and two assists.

•  O'Rourke also had 20 points on the night, the third time he has eclipsed the 20 point mark this season. O'Rourke made eight free throws for the Rangers which proved to be critical down the final stretch. 

• The Rangers also held Wildcat Max Bjorklund to four points, he came in averaging 24.5 on the season.

• As a team the Rangers shot 44% from the field and 31% from deep. The Rangers made 19 free throws to the Wildcats nine.

HEAR FROM COACH Luke Reigel

"Incredibly proud of our players tonight.  It was another great college basketball game and we made just enough plays down the stretch to get the win.  Not a bad start for a team picked to finish at the bottom of the league.  

Northern is very good so it was especially nice to beat one of the preseason favorites.

Our defense was definitely what carried us again today.  It was a tremendous team effort on that end but I thought Josiah Palmer and Jacksun Hamilton really stood out.   Our players are starting to figure out that you don't have to score to help the team win. 

Overall a nice weekend  unfortunately we don't have much time to enjoy it as we need to get ready for Monday."

HOW IT HAPPENED 

 The first half was controlled by the Rangers, but they could only maintain a lead less than six points. The Rangers took a four-point lead into halftime. In a game that featured eight lead changes, the Rangers battled back from a seven-point deficit midway through the second half.  

Although the Rangers held a lead for the majority of the game, they started the second half slow and let the Wildcats take control. The Rangers were able to claw back and tie the game with 2:35 remaining in the second half thanks to clutch free throws from redshirt sophomore Colin O'Rourke. 

The Rangers also came up big on the defensive end, holding the Wildcats scoreless over the final 1:34 of the contest. The Rangers closed out the Wildcats on a 12-2 run over the final 4:20 to seal the second GLIAC win in as many tries.

WHATS NEXT

The Rangers will take on Concordia University Chicago at 7 p.m. in De Simone Arena on Monday December 5th. Links to coverage including the live stream through FloSports can be found at parksiderangers.com/coverage