ELLISVILLE –
Tradavis Thompson's (Raymond) 3-point attempt just missed at the buzzer and the Northwest Rangers held off Jones College 72-70 here Thursday evening in the Region 23 Tournament at A.B. Howard Gymnasium
The loss ends the Bobcats' season at 6-6. The Bobcats' six losses were by a combined 17 points – a five-point loss, two 3-point losses and three 2-point losses.
The Rangers, 8-7, will go to Pearl River Tuesday in a region quarterfinal matchup.
After leading 36-29 at halftime, Northwest held a 43-31 lead with 19:13 left in the game when Deantoni Gordon made a layup.
Jones then outscored the Rangers 35-12 over the next 13:19 and took a 66-55 lead with 4:54 left when
Reggie Gause Jr. (Folsom, Louisiana) made a 3-pointer.
But the Rangers went on a 14-0 run and went up 69-66 with 1:42 remaining on a Gordon dunk.
Northwest was ahead 71-70 with 10 seconds to play when Gordon was fouled. He made the first shot, missed the second and Jones got the rebound. But the Bobcats were called for an offensive foul and turned the ball over with four seconds to play.
However, the Rangers turned it over with two seconds remaining and Jones called time out.
The Bobcats went for the win on the inbounds pass on their offensive end of the court, but Thompson missed and the Rangers got the win.
Thompson led the Bobcats with 16 points, Gause added 12 and
Jabari Bowman (Warren Central) added 11. Gause and Bowman had nine rebounds each and
Korey Jones (Allen, Texas) had seven boards. Thompson had six assists and five steals.
Gordon, a transfer from Wichita State, led Northwest with 27 points and eight rebounds. Forte Prater had 21, making four 3-pointers.
The Bobcats made 29-of-65 shots for 45 percent and were 6-of-19 from 3-point range for 32 percent. Jones made 6-of-9 free throws.
Northwest was 26-of-54 from the floor for 48 percent and converted 10-of-24 3-pointers for 42 percent. The Rangers were 10-of-12 from the free throw line.
Jones had a 44-24 advantage on points in the paint and a 22-6 edge on second chance points.
