ALVA, Okla. — Freshman Reggie Webster scored 20 points and Wesley Booker notched his seventh double-double of the season as Harding overcame a slow start to defeat Northwestern Oklahoma State 68-63 on Thursday night at Percefull Fieldhouse.

The victory snapped a two-game road losing streak for the Bisons (13-5, 9-3 GAC) and ended a three-game winning streak for the Rangers (8-10, 5-7 GAC).

Booker, the Great American Conference leader in rebounding, tied a career high with 14 boards to go along with 10 points. His presence in the paint helped Harding dominate the glass with a 38-25 rebounding advantage, neutralizing a Rangers team that featured the conference's leading scorer, Max Alexander.

Alexander lived up to his billing, exploding for a game-high 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting, but it wasn't enough to overcome Harding's efficient second-half surge.

After a defensive struggle in the first half that saw the teams tied 22-22 at the break, Harding's offense ignited. The Bisons shot 62.5% from the field in the second half, including 6-of-13 from 3-point range.

Harding took the lead for good at 44-42 on a Booker jumper with 10:51 remaining. The Bisons extended that lead to as many as eight points when Webster buried a triple with 6:08 left to play.

NWOSU made a late push, cutting the deficit to 64-63 on a Justin Norris free throw with 23 seconds left. However, Webster and Keyln McBride combined to go 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 21 seconds to seal the win. McBride finished with 14 points and four assists.

The Bisons' defense, ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense entering the night, held the Rangers to just 25% from 3-point range.

Robbie Armbrester added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Rangers in the loss.

Harding remains in third place in the GAC standings and continues the Oklahoma road trip Saturday at Southwestern Oklahoma in Weatherford.