The 2024 Northwest Mississippi Community College Men’s Basketball Media Guide is a digital publication of the Northwest Sports Information Office. This publication was written and edited by Sports Information Director Brian Lentz, with contributions from Assistant Sports Information Director Brian Oakley, student intern Thomas Hunt, and graphic designers Jennifer Corbin and Kevin Pitts. Additional editing provided by the Northwest Office of Marketing and Communications. Cover designed by Kevin Pitts and Brian Lentz.
Photography provided by: Kevin Pitts, Brian Lentz, Brian Oakley, NJCAA, Kevin Maloney, Brett Brown, Lee Adams, Michael Miller, Gather Lacefield, Justin Ford, Julie Bauer, Sarah Smith, Carly Fox and Rocketeer yearbook archives. All records and award winners were compiled based off archived information from Northwest Mississippi Community College and the NJCAA. Any records or statistics not included in this publication can be submitted to the Sports Information Office by emailing Sports Information Director Brian Lentz at blentz@northwestms.edu or by calling (662) 562-3303.
President: Dr. Michael J. Heindl (Hinds Community College, A.A. - 1994) (Mississippi College, B.S. - 1997) (Western Michigan, J.D. - 2001) (Mississippi State, Ph.D - 2011)
Director of Athletics: Jake Gordon (University of Utah) (Saint Leo University)
Conference: Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference Colors: Navy Blue (PMS 280), Scarlet Red (PMS 186), Valor Blue (), White Football Facility (Capacity): Howard Coliseum (2,500)
Alma Mater, Year: Northwest Mississippi Community College (A.A. - 1998) University of Mississippi (B.A. - 2001) University of Northern Colorado (M.S. - 2016) Career Record: 22-27 (.449); Two seasons Conference Record: 9-19 (.321)
X (formerly Twitter): @LATARYL / @NWCC_WBK
Assistant Coach: Vaquela Pimpton; Two seasons Strength and Conditioning Coach: Randal Pharr; Fourth season Academic Athletic Coordinator: Charlesy Kennedy
National Championships: 0
Region Championships: 6 (1979-80, 1995-96, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06)
orthwest Mississippi Community College is an open-access, public, two-year institution primarily serving Benton, Calhoun, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, and Yalobusha counties. NWCC is a learning-centered community providing educational opportunities with quality instruction for students from all walks of life. Our college fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and student success. We strive for continuous improvement, with a standard of excellence in every area of the institution. Our college partners with businesses and industries that seek to grow the economy and the workforce, as well as partners with alumni, friends, and others. Engagement takes place in all communities that the college serves.
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Northwest offers the pre-requisites you need to prepare for an exciting four-year degree at any of Mississippi’s colleges or universities. We also offer nearly 40 Career and Technical programs designed to teach students the practical skills needed for a wide variety of jobs in the workforce.
AREAS OF STUDY
Department of Business
Department of Education
Department of Fine Arts
Department of Languages and Communications
Department of Social Science
Department of Nursing
Department of Mathematics
Department of Natural Sciences
Career-Technical Education
School of Health Sciences
COST
Northwest is less than half the price of a Mississippi public college or university ($1,695 per semester versus an average $3,700 per semester).
FINANCIAL AID
Over 90 percent of Northwest students receive some sort of financial assistance.
STUDENTS
Over 7,000 students spread across six campuses located in Senatobia, Batesville, Olive Branch, Southaven, Ashland and Oxford. The current student to faculty ratio is 20:1.
Northwest offers 10 competitive athletic programs and is known state‐wide for its tradition of excellence in intercollegiate sports. The Rangers have won six national titles since 1982 in football, women’s basketball and cheer. Since 2000, over 350 Northwest student-athletes have gone on to play at over 150 different four-year schools around the country. Over 50 of those have gone on to play professionally.
STUDENT LIFE
Life at Northwest is so much more than classes and studying. Intramurals, athletics, clubs and organizations and campus activities give Northwest students a chance to unwind from classes and get involved on campus and in the community.
ACCREDITATION
Northwest Mississippi Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the Associate of Arts degree, the Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates in career education. Questions about the accreditation of Northwest Mississippi Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 6794500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Northwest Mississippi Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran in all its programs and activities. Northwest Mississippi Community College prohibits sexual harassment and all forms of sexual violence, regardless of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990/Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Disability Support Services Coordinator, Tate Hall, P.O. Box 7046, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 562-3309, e-mail address mkelsay@northwestms.edu; Title II of the Age Discrimination Act: Vice President for Finance and Administration, James P. McCormick Administration Building, P.O. Box 7017, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 562-3216, e-mail address jhorton@northwestms.edu; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972/Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: (For student-related matters) Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management, Tate Hall, P.O. Box 7010, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 562-3409, e-mail address trush@northwestms.edu or (for employment-related matters) Director of Human Resources, James P. McCormick Administration Building, P.O. Box 7038, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 560-5216, email estanford@northwestms.edu.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JAMIE ANDERSON Tallahatchie
DR. RACHELL ANDERSON Tunica
JERRY BARRETT Vice Chairman • Tate
STEVE BOSTICK Benton
JEAN ANN CASEY Calhoun ANGIE CRAWFORD Quitman
STEVE CUMMINGS Yalobusha
BILL DAWSON Marshall
ALEE’ DIXON Tate
DIANA GRIST Benton
SYLVIA HICKEY Tallahatchie
SAMMY HIGDON Yalobusha
BRENDA HOPSON Quitman
STURGIS MONTEITH DeSoto
JOHN T. LAMAR JR. Board Attorney • Tate DR. LISA LANGFORD Calhoun
MIKE MOORE Lafayette
DR. DELL PHILLIPS Panola
DR. CARRIE SKELTON Marshall
CORY USELTON Chairman • DeSoto
JAY FOSTER Lafayette
DOROTHY WILBOURN Panola
DR. MICHAEL J. HEINDL PRESIDENT
Dr. Michael J. Heindl was selected as the ninth president of Northwest Mississippi Community College by the college’s Board of Trustees during a special meeting held April 26, 2018 on the Senatobia campus.
A native of Clinton, Heindl heads the state’s third-largest community college with a current enrollment of over 7,000 students on six campuses and online.
Heindl, a community college graduate, brings with him to Northwest experience in a number of areas, including finance, technology, legal issues, human resources, emergency management, campus leadership, student services, workforce training and admissions.
Heindl holds a Ph.D. in community college leadership from Mississippi State University (2011), a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University (2001), a B.S. in psychology from Mississippi College (1997) and an Associate of Arts in general studies/music from Hinds Community College (1994).
He began his career in education in 2001 as golf tournament coordinator at Hinds Community College and also served as an intern for the Mississippi Supreme Court while working on his law degree during that time. In July, 2001 he became dean of students for Wesley College in Florence before being named district director of Admissions and Records at Hinds in 2003.
In 2006, Heindl was program specialist for Career and Technical Education at the Mississippi Community College Board, where some of his responsibilities included coordination for all career-technical programs and workforce training for the state’s 15 community colleges.
In 2007 he returned to Hinds, where he worked for four years as dean of students for the Rankin County Campus before being named vice president of the Jackson County Campus of MGCCC in 2011. A year later, he moved into the position of executive vice president of Administration and Finance.
In addition to his administrative experience, Heindl has 17 years of teaching experience, having served as an adjunct instructor for legal courses in both the Department of Business and in the Career-Technical paralegal program at Hinds. He has also taught graduate-level courses in higher education law at Mississippi College and was an adjunct professor teaching Community College Legal Issues in the Community College Leadership doctoral program at Mississippi State University
Active in a number of professional groups and community organizations, Heindl served as president-elect of the Community College Business Officers Association (CCBO), a member of the Gulf Coast Business Council Master’s Class and the Education Strategic Planning Committee for the Mississippi Coast, on the Planning Committee for Leadership Mississippi and an Angel runner for Ainsley’s Angels, a national organization that provides racing/running experiences for special needs individuals.
He has served as a member of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Structured Pathways, Statewide Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement Task Force and was on the MGCCC District Athletic Council. He also assisted other colleges with the accreditation process by serving on the Finance Accreditation Review Team for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
J.
with his
Among his many accomplishments are the MGCCC Master Trainer Award, CCBO Outstanding Chief Business Officer Award, and Mississippi Top Ten Business Leaders Under 40. He has participated in leadership programs including the AACC Future Presidents Institute, Mississippi Economic Council, Leadership Mississippi and Leadership DeSoto County. Dr. Heindl was also named as a 2021 Top CEO by the Mississippi Business Journal, and most recently, he was nominated to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges.
Heindl is married to the former Jennifer Ingram, and the couple have three children: Taryn (28), Harrison (20) and Nicholas (18), along with a grandson, Jayson (9).
Under the leadership of DR. MICHAEL J. HEINDL, Northwest has experienced growth in numerous areas. One of those areas include overall facilities, a plan that included upgrades at Bobby Franklin Field, a new, state-of-the-art softball/soccer facility and a new baseball facility, slated for completion in Spring 2025.
DR. MICHAEL
HEINDL pictured
wife, Jennifer, children Taryn (28), Harrison (20) and Nicholas (18), and grandson, Jayson (9). Heindl was selected as the College’s ninth president on April 26, 2018.
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JAKE GORDON
Jake Gordon enters his third year as the Director of Athletics for Northwest Mississippi Community College.
In his two full years of leadership, Gordon has overseen the growth of the Northwest athletic program, helping bring back men’s golf and be one of two Mississippi JUCOs to start a women’s golf program. The two sports will begin competing this fall.
Meanwhile, the Rangers have thrived across the board during Gordon’s tenure. The Northwest football team continues to reach the postseason, while the men’s and women’s tennis teams both made their respective NJCAA tournament debuts in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, the Northwest women’s soccer program has made back-to-back appearances in the NJCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship tournament, while also capturing their first NJCAA Region 23 title in program history.
One of Gordon’s first hires at Northwest, rodeo coach Will Lummus, has raised the bar of success for the Ranger rodeo program. After sending Colby Burgess to the College National Finals Rodeo in 2023, the Northwest men’s rodeo team had five athletes compete in the CNFR during the summer of 2024.
Additionally, Gordon was also responsible for hiring an entirely new women’s basketball coaching staff, led by head coach and 2023 Northwest Sports Hall of Fame inductee LaTaryl Williams. In his second season, Williams’ squad made it to the first round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. Other sports, such as baseball and softball, have also continued to reach the postseason during Gordon’s tenure.
Gordon has made it a point to highlight the Rangers’ success in the classroom as well, establishing the inaugural Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the 2022-23 academic year. He also appointed Charlesy Kennedy to the role of athletic academic advisor, while establishing Tori Fugatt’s role as football academic advisor. Together, the duo helped 175 student-athletes earn recognition to the Fall 2023 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and 142 to the spring edition. Northwest also had three teams (football, baseball, volleyball) earn MACCC All-Academic Team of the Year recognition, while the Ranger football program garnered NJCAA AllAcademic Team of the Year honors.
Gordon came to Northwest in July 2022 from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, where he spent three seasons as the assistant athletic director for the Buccaneers. While at Blinn, he was in charge of eligibility of all student-athletes, gameday operations and live streaming all home games on the college’s YouTube channel.
Gordon has nine years of experience at the NJCAA level, previously serving two seasons as the assistant athletic director at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio. While at Lakeland, he assisted with the day-to-day operations of the athletic department, eligibility and the Athletic and Fitness Center. Gordon was also in charge of athletic communications, administered the website, promoted the College’s seven NJCAA Division II sports programs, administered an academic tracking system for student-athletes, oversaw the academic retention program for student athletes and held event management duties.
Prior to his tenure at Lakeland, Gordon also had an earlier stint at Blinn College as the communication and sports information specialist for three seasons. Gordon was instrumental in providing coverage to the media on the Buccaneers’ national championship volleyball program in 2014, four national titles in cheer and dance and three national tournament appearances for volleyball, softball and women’s basketball.
Since being hired as the college’s athletic director in June 2022, JAKE GORDON has helped Northwest grow both on and off the field. In addition to reviving men’s golf and adding women’s golf, Gordon has also helped establish student-athletes’ success in the classroom.
Gordon worked at various newspapers in Utah prior to his arrival at Blinn, including the Salt Lake Tribune, Tooele Transcript-Bulletin, Deseret News and The Vernal Express. While at The Vernal Express, he served as the sports editor, covering high school and local sports for Uintah County, designing sports pages and maintaining the sports section of the website.
Gordon is a native of Tooele, Utah and received his bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Utah and Master of Business Administration in sports administration from Saint Leo University. He and his wife, Tiffany, have two children, Lucy and Andrew.
NORTHWEST ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Office: (662) 562-3303
Fax: (662) 562-3303
Mailing Address:
MEDIA INFORMATION
COVERAGE
Northwest Mississippi Community College Athletic Communications Department
4975 Hwy. 51 North Senatobia, MS 38668
SPORTS INFORMATION CONTACTS
BRIAN LENTZ
Director of Sports Information
Cell: (901) 626-7885
Office: (662) 562-3303
Email: blentz@northwestms.edu
X (Twitter): @BrianJLentz
BRIAN OAKLEY
Assistant Director of Sports Information Office: (662) 562-3269
Email: boakley@northwestms.edu
X (Twitter): @briansoakley
Northwest Mississippi Community College maintains a comprehensive official athletic department website. Up-to-date information, including schedules, statistics, rosters, player signings and news releases for all nine sports are provided on the award-winning nwccrangers.com. In-game live stats, live video and live audio is available for each Ranger football contest. Fans can also follow the team on numerous social media outlets, by searching the username @NWCC_Rangers. The Northwest sports information department, consisting of Brian Lentz and Brian Oakley, maintain the athletic website.
CREDENTIALS
Media or photo credentials are required for admittance to Northwest basketball games for working media. However, it is requested that media seeking to cover a game contact the sports information director prior to avoid additional problems. For further inquiries, contact Brian Lentz at (662) 562-3303 or at blentz@northwestms.edu.
PRESS SERVICES
Media guides, game notes, rosters, results and statistics are updated daily on the college’s athletic website, nwccrangers.com. Stat files and other game materials can be printed for media upon request. An official NJCAA box score and play-by-play information may be obtained from the sports information director approximately 15 minutes following the conclusion of the game.
INTERVIEWS
All player and coach interviews must be arranged through the sports information director. Coaches and athletes will be available following games after a brief 10-minute cooling off period. The best time to interview coaches is typically in the mornings, Monday through Wednesday. The best time to interview student-athletes is directly after weekday practices around 5:00 p.m.
GAME BROADCASTS
Broadcast media in attendance are requested to contact the sports information director at least one week prior to the game in question. For the third straight year, Northwest will continue its partnership with WMC-TV 5 in Memphis, as select men’s and women’s basketball contests are slated to air on Action News 5 Plus across north Mississippi, west Tennessee and eastern Arkansas. The channel can be accessed by downloading the Action News 5 app on your Roku, Amazon Fire Stick or Apple TV device, or on an over-the-air antenna through Channel 5.3 in the Mid-South region.
All Northwest games will also continue to air on Ranger TV, unless otherwise noted. Ranger TV is available worldwide by visiting nwccrangers.com/watch.
For the third straight season, broadcast duties will be split between Tyler Springs and Matt Infield. Springs holds an array of broadcast experience, working for such entities as WMC-TV 5, NewsTalk 98.9 FM WKIM, the UFL’s Memphis Showboats and the University of Memphis. Infield is a native New Yorker with roots on Long Island, and has worked as a sports anchor and reporter for WMC-TV 5 since June 2022. His other experience includes a four-year stint at WSAW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin prior to his arrival in Memphis.
DR. ANDREW DALE Associate Vice President for Community Relations
SARAH SMITH Communications Specialist
MATTHEW MIXSON Video Coordinator & Digital Media Specialist
JENNIFER CORBIN Graphic Designer
CARLY FOX Assistant Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications
KEVIN PITTS Graphic Designer & Communications Specialist
MEN’S BASKETBALL
COACHES AND ROSTER
HEAD COACH SHANE OAKLEY
Shane Oakley enters his 19th season at Northwest and his seventh as head coach of the men’s basketball program in 2024-25.
Through six years at the helm of the men’s basketball program, Oakley has compiled a 67-72 overall record (.571) and a 35-45 mark against conference opponents (.438), a total that includes his stint as the team’s interim head coach in the 2018-19 season.
Northwest finished 8-18 during the 2023-24 campaign and just 4-10 within the MACCC, although one of those victories came on the home floor against conference powerhouse Pearl River.
One member of last season’s squad signed to the four-year level, Darren Davis (Delta State). Since taking over the head coaching reins prior to the 2018-19 season, 10 of Oakley’s players have signed or walked-on at four-year programs. Eight of those 10 student-athletes have joined Division I programs, such as Memphis, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State.
The 2022-23 season brought forth several challenges for Oakley’s squad, as the Rangers won just five games. The injury bug bit hard and often, although the Rangers managed to compete well throughout conference play, earning wins against Holmes, Mississippi Delta and Pearl River. Six conference losses were within 10 points or less.
The 2021-22 season resulted in an 18-8 overall record for Oakley, marking the most victories in a single season during his tenure. The Rangers sported a 9-5 record against conference opponents, also a milestone for Oakley, and made the NJCAA Region 23 Playoffs.
Although his third season may have been the most challenging yet, Oakley still managed to guide his team to an 8-8 overall mark during the 2020-21 campaign, yielding the Rangers’ second straight postseason appearance. Northwest earned a gritty, hard-fought victory at Jones College in the second round of the Region 23 Tournament, before falling to top-seeded Pearl River in the quarterfinal round.
Oakley compiled a 16-10 overall record and a 7-5 mark in the MACJC North Division during the 2019-20 campaign, guiding the Rangers to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. Transfer guard Jakobi Pearson garnered first team All-MACJC honors and Duhart signed with Appalachian State.
As the Rangers’ interim coach during the 2018-19 season, Oakley led the Rangers to a 12-10 overall record and a 5-7 mark in the north division with a short-handed roster.
This is Oakley’s second stint at Northwest, briefly stepping away in 2011-12 to coach at Jones County JC for a season. Oakley worked with both the men’s and women’s programs during the 2004-11 seasons and spent the last six as the men’s assistant.
Northwest had a breakout 2017-18 season, going 22-4 overall and 11-1 in division play. The Rangers won the MACJC north division and hosted the conference tournament, finished as conference runner-up and closed the year with a No. 12 NJCAA national ranking.
The eight-year tandem of Oakley and former head coach Bubba Skelton (2004-06, 2012-18) provided a combined 155-59 overall record and 71-25 north division record, including an MACJC championship, two region championships and two trips to the NJCAA national tournament.
In his 19 seasons, Oakley has coached 20 all-conference selections, including 13 first team selections and seven second teamers, and four NJCAA All-Americans. Troy University signee Jitaurious Gordon became the Rangers’ first two-time all-conference nod in two decades in 2019.
Prior to his one year stint at Jones in 2011-12, Oakley was the women’s and men’s basketball assistant from 2004-11 at Northwest where he enjoyed success with both programs. The men posted a 95-75 mark and the women were 115-75 during his previous seven seasons in Senatobia.
Oakley helped the men’s team to a state championship during the 2004-05 season and back-toback Region 23 Championships and NJCAA Tournament appearances from 2004-06 with Skelton, and on the women’s side, captured another region title and NJCAA Tournament appearance in 2004-05 alongside Don Edwards.
Prior to Northwest, Oakley spent one season as the men’s and women’s assistant at Mississippi Delta. His first coaching job came as a graduate assistant at Delta State during the 2002-03 season.
A Senatobia native, Oakley received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health and physical education from Delta State. He is the twin brother of longtime Ranger football assistant coach, Scott Oakley, and his older brother, Brian, serves as the assistant sports information director.
Oakley is married to the former Alison Smith of Sardis.
ASSISTANT COACH JAMAR MCKNIGHT
JAMAR MCKNIGHT ASSISTANT COACH
During his first two seasons on head coach Shane Oakley’s staff, McKnight has had a role in developing two future four-year players in Jaylon Sanders (Mississippi Valley State) and Darren Davis (Delta State)
A native of Zachary, La., McKnight brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to Northwest, beginning with his two-year stint with the Rangers from 1998-2000. He played two seasons for former coach Don “Bubba” Skelton, leading the team in scoring with 18.5 points per game during his sophomore season. McKnight also earned All-MACCC honors and remains third in the career record books for free throw percentage (.793).
Following Northwest, McKnight continued his athletic career at Clemson University from 2000-02, earning 24 starts during his senior season with the Tigers. He averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a senior, while also averaging 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game over the span of his two-year career.
McKnight then gained professional experience both domestically and overseas, beginning with a two-year stint with the Greenville Groove of the former National Basketball Development League (now known as the G-League). After being invited to the Boston Celtics’ camp, McKnight turned his attention to Europe and Asia, playing for teams in Austria, Hungary, Iran and Spain from 2004-06.
After a brief return to the United States with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBDL, McKnight headed back overseas in 2007 to continue his professional career in Portugal. He missed the 2008-09 season due to injury, but returned to the court in Instanbul, Turkey in 2010, before retiring to pursue a path in coaching.
McKnight began his coaching career in between international playing stints, heading up the Zachary All-Stars’ AAU program from 2007-13. In 2011, he began a stint as the assistant coach for the men’s basketball program at Baton Rouge Community College, a role he served in until 2014. While at BRCC, he touted a 5-1 record during a brief period as the interim head coach and helped lead the Bears to their first conference title during his time as an assistant, helping the program to the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.
From 2014-17, McKnight returned to his alma mater, Zachary High School, serving as an assistant coach for the varsity and junior varsity basketball programs. While at Zachary, he helped the Broncos to the LHSAA Class 5A Semifinals and guided the boys’ program to the playoffs in 2015. Additionally, McKnight also served as an assistant coach on the school’s football staff.
In 2018, McKnight was named the head boys’ basketball coach at Southern University A&M Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, a role he served in until this year. While there, he helped Southern Lab to the LHSAA quarterfinals and was named the District 1-6A Coach of the Year. During the 2020-21 season, he helped the program to a No. 1 ranking in the state and a top seed in Class 1A. During that season, his team knocked off traditional powerhouse programs such as Catholic, University, Walker, Jehovah-Jireh and Crescent City.
McKnight holds multiple college degrees, including an Associate of Arts from Northwest and a pair of bachelor’s degrees from Clemson (Speech and Communications) and Southern University A&M College (Sociology). In 2017, he also earned his Masters of Arts in Social Sciences from Southern University, with a concentration on sociology and a thesis on “The Impact of Sports on Athletes and Their Families in Our Society”.
Former Northwest men’s basketball standout Jamar McKnight enters his third season as the men’s basketball assistant coach in 2024-25.
Long before his coaching career began, JAMAR MCKNIGHT spent two seasons playing for Northwest men’s basketball coach Don “Bubba” Skelton, before concluding his college career at Clemson (shown above).
After coaching in the high school ranks in his home state of Louisiana, JAMAR MCKNIGHT returned to Northwest prior to the 2022-23 season.
2024-25 ROSTER
2024-25 ROSTER
DARRIAN JOHNSON
Forward • 6-6 • 195 • Redshirt Freshman
Hattiesburg, Miss. • Belhaven University
2023-24 [Freshman; Belhaven University]: Redshirted his freshman season at Belhaven.
High School:
Played for head coach Ernie Watson at Hattiesburg...helped the Tigers to a 24-7 overall record, the Region 6-5A title and the 2023 MHSAA Class 5A State Championship as a senior...chosen as the 2023 Pine Belt Player of the Year and also earned all-state honors during his senior campaign...two-time All-Region 6-5A selection...off the court, an Honor Roll student...received interest from Belhaven University and several MACCC programs.
Personal:
Son of Anightress and Rafael Neal, and Darryl Johnson...has two siblings, Jayla Franklin (17) and Rafael Neal, Jr. (16)...hobbies include cooking, listening to music and being with family...studying psychology...nicknames are “Dee” and “DJ”...born October 19, 2004.
Played in 24 games last season, earning 16 starts...tied for fifth on the team in rebounds per game (3.1), while averaging 6.3 points per game...also provided 15 blocks and 11 steals...scored in double figures in eight games, including a season-high 15 points against Copiah-Lincoln on January 11, 2024...notched a season-best nine rebounds in a win against Dyersburg State on January 9, 2023...off the court, named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters, while also earning Vice President’s List honors for both semesters.
High School:
Played for head coach Owen Miller at Gulfport...helped the Admirals to a 25-7 overall record and the MHSAA Class 6A Playoffs as a senior...selected as the team captain for GHS... off the court, graduated with a 3.7 GPA and was a member of the school’s Beta Club... received interest from Xavier, Mississippi Valley State and several MACCC programs.
Personal:
Son of Alaia Daniel and Ikeno Patrick...has one sibling, Kamaya (16)...enjoys reading in his spare time...studying business...nickname is “Key”...born October 2, 2004.
2023-24 [Freshman]:
2
TYLER SPEARS
Guard • 6-2 • 175 • Sophomore
Hattiesburg, Miss. • Lamar Christian School
Saw action in 15 games last season, averaging 2.5 points and 0.3 rebounds per game... notched a career-high 14 points in a February 1, 2024 matchup against nationally-ranked Jones College...garnered two of his three season steals in a December 8, 2023 matchup against Motlow State...wore #12 last season.
High School:
Played for head coach Caleb Bennett at Lamar Christian School...helped the Lions to a 15-6 overall record and a district championship as a senior...named district MVP and First Team All-MAIS following his senior campaign...also scored over 1,000 points in his prep career...off the court, an A/B Honor Roll student...received interest from a handful of MACCC programs.
Personal:
Son of Lakishia and Ellis Spears...father, Ellis, played football for Grambling from 200002...has four siblings: Makenzie (15), Makaylah (13), Emeri (9) and Eden (5)...enjoys listening to music in his spare time...studying sports management...nickname is “Ty”... born November 25, 2003.
High School:
2024-25 ROSTER
3
CALEB HUNT
Guard • 6-1 • 190 • Freshman
Olive Branch, Miss. • Olive Branch HS
Played for head coach Eric Rombaugh at Olive Branch...helped the Conquistadors to a 27-4 overall record, the Region 1-6A title and the MHSAA Class 6A State Championship as a senior...scored 10 points with eight rebounds in the state title victory against Ridgeland...was also named as a MHSAA Scholar Athlete prior to the championship game...was part of three region championship teams at OBHS...two-time Scholar Athlete of the Year and two-time All-Region selection...off the court, graduated in the top 20 of his senior class and maintained an “A” average for his junior and senior years...also named Spanish Student of the Year as a junior...received interest from Delta State, Missouri State-West Plains and a handful of MACCC programs.
Personal:
Son of Latasha and Marchello Hunt...has two younger siblings, Zoe (12) and Braelyn (6)...enjoys playing video games in his spare time...studying computer engineering... nickname is “C5”...born March 7, 2006.
2023-24 [Freshman]:
4
JA’QUISE RICHMOND
Forward • 6-6
Played in 23 games last season, earning a pair of starts in road contests at East Mississippi and Copiah-Lincoln...averaged 5.4 points and 2.0 rebounds off the bench...scored in double figures three times last season, including a career-high 18 points in the regular season finale at Mississippi Gulf Coast...finished with a season-high six rebounds in a non-conference matchup against Copiah-Lincoln...also totaled nine assists, nine blocks and seven steals on the season...wore #23 last year.
High School:
Played for head coach Carl Klein at Barbe...helped the Buccaneers to a 17-12 overall record, a 6-4 mark in District 3-5A and the LHSAA Playoffs as a senior...averaged 15 points per game as a senior and named Second Team All-Southwest Louisiana team by the American Press...also selected for First Team District 3-5A honors.
Personal:
No information available.
2023-24 [Freshman]:
5
SHAVURDACOUR NICHOLAS
Guard • 6-5 • 180 • Sophomore
New Orleans, La. • L.B. Landry HS
Played in 26 games last season, drawing 14 starts...was tied for second on the team in scoring, with an average of 8.0 points per game...also averaged 3.1 rebounds per game and totaled 30 assists to go along with 23 steals...finished in double figures seven times last year, including a season-high 21 points in a road contest at Itawamba...collected a season-high eight rebounds in a pair of games against Mississippi Delta and State Fair... wore #3 last season.
High School:
Played for head coach Rob Wallace at L.B. Landry...helped the Buccaneers to a 21-11 overall record during his senior campaign...as a senior, named to New Orleans TimesPicayune’s All-Metro Team and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State team...also garnered all-district MVP accolades and all-state recognition...off the court, a consistent Honor Roll student.
Personal:
Son of Nicole Nicholas and Craig Jones...has four siblings: Shakur (27), Shamur (26), Crashyne (17) and Chase (3)...enjoys working out in his spare time...studying engineering...nickname is “Vo”...born June 26, 2004.
High School:
10
2024-25 ROSTER
COLAIN BROWN
Guard • 6-4 • 165 • Freshman
Holly Springs, Miss. • Holly Springs HS
Played for head coaches Luke Chapman and Andre’ Jones at Holly Springs...helped the Hawks to the first round of the MHSAA Class 3A Playoffs as a senior...earned Region 2-3A Best Offensive Player accolades, as well as team MVP honors...received interest from Rust College, Dodge City CC and several MACCC programs.
Personal:
Son of Quozonda Brown and Colain Brown, Sr...has three siblings: Nikyra (24), Danalia (21) and Aireal (15)...enjoys playing video games with friends in his spare time...studying general education...nickname is “C.J.”...born June 20, 2005.
11 TYLER SHEPHARD
Guard • 6-2 • 185 • Sophomore
Pontotoc, Miss. • Northeast Mississippi CC
2023-24 [Freshman; Northeast Mississippi CC]:
Spent his freshman season at Northeast...saw action in 16 games for the Tigers, earning five starts...averaged 4.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game...finished in double figures three times last season, including an 11-point effort in his collegiate debut against Jackson State CC (Tenn.)...notched a career-high 21 points in a 118-59 victory against Volunteer State...totaled a season-best four rebounds in a pair of games against Baton Rouge Post Graduate Academy and Mineral Area College.
High School:
Played for head coach Rolley Tipler at Pontotoc...helped the Tigers to a 20-3 overall record, Region 2-4A title and an appearance in the semifinals of the MHSAA Class 4A Playoffs as a senior...averaged 23.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game during his senior campaign...shot 34 percent on the season from three-point range and 74 percent from the free throw line...chosen for Region 2-4A MVP honors, as well as all-state and First Team Daily Journal All-Area team accolades.
Joined the program at Texas Southern, but did not play.
2022-23 [Alcorn State]:
Played briefly for Alcorn State.
2021-22 [Freshman; Santa Monica College]:
Spent his freshman season playing for Santa Monica College...played in 16 games for the Corsairs, averaging 1.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game...earned a season-high five points and five rebounds in an 88-80 victory against Glendale on January 22, 2022.
High School:
Played for Alpha Omega Academy in Huntsville, Texas.
Played for head coach Collin Goley at Ocean Springs...helped the Greyhounds to a 20-8 overall record and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the MHSAA Class 7A Playoffs as a senior...recorded 1,000 points for his varsity career, eclipsing the milestone in a January 23 victory against Gulfport...one of only four OSHS players in history to score 1,000 points or more.
Played in three games last season...recorded a steal in the Rangers’ season finale at Mississippi Gulf Coast...off the court, named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the Spring 2024 semester...wore #10 last season.
High School:
Played for head coach Robert Green at Tupelo...helped the Golden Wave to a 17-12 overall record and the second round of the MHSAA Class 6A Playoffs as a senior.
Spent his senior season playing for head coach Nathaniel West at Darlington School in Rome, Ga...helped the Tigers to a 24-6 overall record and an undefeated 12-0 mark in GHSA Division I, Region 7 and the quarterfinals of the GHSA Division I Playoffs...averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks per game...garnered North All-State 1A honors by the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association...prior to his senior season, played at Itawamba Agricultural High School...as a junior, helped the Indians to an 11-13 record and the first round of the MHSAA Class 4A Playoffs...was chosen to compete in the Class 4A/5A/6A All-Star Game by the Mississippi Association of Coaches...received interest from Mississippi State, Army, Navy, Furman, Southern Miss, West Georgia, Cedarville University, Pensacola State and a handful of MACCC programs.
Personal:
Son of Holly and Michael Hutton...has one sister, Emma (21)...enjoys running track and playing video games in his spare time...studying finance...nickname is “G-Money”...born October 27, 2005.
23
RICH’ARD FRAZIER
Center/Forward • 6-9 • 205 • Sophomore Hattiesburg, Miss. • Pearl River CC
2023-24 [Freshman; Pearl River CC]:
Spent his freshman season at Pearl River, helping the Wildcats to a 21-10 overall record and the second round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament...saw action in 13 games last season, averaging 1.5 points per game...netted a career-high eight points in a 113-45 blowout win against Royal Ambassadors on January 11...also finished with seven points in a 113-51 victory against Baton Rouge Post Graduate Academy on Jan. 4...collected a season-high four rebounds in the win against Royal Ambassadors.
High School:
Played for head coach Scott Landry at Forrest County Agricultural...helped the Aggies to a 23-3 overall record, a Region 7-4A title, and the second round of the MHSAA Class 4A Playoffs as a senior...named Region 7-4A Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season...was part of three region championship teams at FCAHS.
Personal:
Son of Rita Tenner and Richard Frazier...has four sibings: Rashawn, Keshawn Evans, Tyler Evans and Khloe Tenner...studying sports management.
25
LAMARCUS CRAWFORD
Forward • 6-5 • 180 • Freshman Lexington, Miss. • Holmes County Central HS
High School: Played for head coach Antwayn Patrick at Holmes County Central.
Personal: No information available.
2024-25 ROSTER 33
DORIAN BOOKER
Center • 7-0 • 260 • Sophomore
Hardwood, La. • University of New Orleans
2023-24 [Freshman; University of New Orleans]:
Spent his freshman season at the University of New Orleans, helping the Privateers to the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament...saw action in 16 games, averaging 2.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game...earned a season-high 12 points in a 91-51 victory against Birmingham Southern on December 14...also collected a season-best four rebounds in a January 22 contest against Houston Christian...added four assists and four blocks on the season.
High School:
Played for head coach Carlos Sample at Scotlandville Magnet...helped the Hornets to a 33-4 overall record, a LHSAA District 4-5A title and a runner-up finish in the 2023 Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Class 5A State Championship game as a senior...led the team in scoring during his senior campaign, averaging 22.1 points per game...finished with 30 double-digit scoring performances during his senior campaign, including five 30-point efforts...totaled a season-best 32 points in a 75-43 victory against McKinley on December 29, 2022...was also second in rebounds, averaging 7.8 boards per game...finished with 10 or more rebounds in 13 different games, including a season-best 14 boards in a 69-40 win against Alexandria on February 28, 2023...averaged a team-leading 4.3 blocks per game...had three games with 10 or more blocks, including a season-high of 12 in a 74-51 win against St. Helena College and Career Academy on Feb. 1, 2023...named the Outstanding Player of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A All-State Basketball Team...as a junior, was part of an SHS team that finished 27-7 overall and captured the 2022 LHSAA Class 5A State Championship...averaged 18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game...reached double figures in 29 games, including a career-high 40 points in an 82-44 win against Central on Feb. 15, 2022...had 23 games with 10 or more rebounds, including a career-high 21-rebound performance in a 67-61 victory against East Ascension on Dec. 7, 2021...recorded a career-high 15 blocks in a 62-42 win against East St. John on Jan. 29, 2022.
Personal:
Son of Nikole and Derrick Booker...has two siblings, Derrick, Jr. (26) and Trey (20)...enjoys fishing in his spare time...nickname is “Pop”...born May 20, 2005.
SEASON PREVIEW
SEASON OUTLOOK
Last season marked a slight step up for the Northwest men’s basketball program.
After finishing with just five wins two seasons ago, coach Shane Oakley’s squad upped their total to eight wins last year, including a notable conference victory against MACCC powerhouse Pearl River. However, the Rangers closed out the 2023-24 campaign on a five-game losing skid, ending the year at 8-18 overall and missing out on the postseason for the second year in a row.
One area Northwest will be missing entering this season is experience. Four of the five top scorers for the Rangers have departed, including Delta State signee Darren Davis, who averaged 13.9 points per game and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game. On the same note, each of the top four rebounders from last season’s squad are also gone, as are four of the top five assist leaders.
The one constant in all three categories is sophomore guard Shavurdacour Nicholas, one of the lone returning starters. Better known as “Vo”, the New Orleans native averaged 8.0 points per game last season, tying Thomas Tangle for second on the team. Nicholas started in 14 of the team’s 26 games, earning 3.1 rebounds per game to finish fifth in that category, along with 30 assists, the fourth-most on the team.
Nicholas also proved to be critical on the defensive side of the ball, earning 23 steals on the season and finishing as just one of two Rangers to end the year with 20 or more takeaways.
Aside from Nicholas, the Rangers also welcome back forward Keanu Patrick, the team’s only other veteran starters. The Gulfport native drew 16 starts last season, garnering 6.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, while also totaling 15 blocks on the year.
Oakley will also have a couple of role players back this season, including forward Ja’Quise Richmond. The Lake Charles, La. native saw valuable minutes in 23 of the Rangers’ 26 games last season, averaging 5.4 points per game. Guards Xzavier Johnson and Tyler Spears are also back on the active roster.
In all, 10 newcomers will join the fray this season, including a handful of transfers. One of the most notable new faces is 7-foot center Dorian Booker, who arrives to Northwest after spending last season playing at Division I University of New Orleans. The Hardwood, La. native was used off the bench for the Privateers last season, but was a highly-decorated standout athlete at Scotlandville High School in the Baton Rouge area, averaging 21.1 points per game and double-digit rebounds as a senior.
Booker will be the first true center the Rangers have had in several seasons, but he isn’t the only newcomer that will catch fans’ attention. Center/forward combo Rich’ard Frazier also joins the
Rangers after spending last season with Pearl River, a powerhouse program within the MACCC. Tyler Shepherd also joins Northwest after spending his freshman season with rival Northeast, with D’Andre Dues (Texas Southern) and Darrian Johnson (Belhaven) rounding out the transfer group.
Meanwhile, Oakley’s squad still boasts a solid core of true freshmen, starting with guard Colain Brown. Hailing from nearby Holly Springs, Brown is expected to be well-versed both in the paint and beyond the arc.
Guard Caleb Hunt is another true freshman to watch this season, after playing a crucial role in helping Olive Branch High School to the MHSAA Class 6A state title last winter. Another interesting newcomer will be forward Grant Hutton, who arrives at Northwest after spending last season with Darlington School in Rome, Ga. The Fulton, Miss. native earned all-state honors in Georgia to cap off his senior year, and previously starred for Itawamba Agricultural High School. Of note, Hutton also chose the Rangers over offers from several other MACCC programs.
As usual, the schedule won’t be kind to Northwest, both inside and outside the conference. The Rangers open the season against nationally-ranked National Park College right out of the gate, as part of the annual ASU Mid-South Greyhound Classic in West Memphis, Ark. Oakley’s club is also scheduled to take part once again in the Harvey Childers Classic at Northeast in mid-December, with Dyersburg State and Missouri State-West Plains on the docket.
Adding to the non-conference slate is a handful of MACCC foes, including Coahoma, Holmes and East Mississippi. While those games might help Northwest get a preview of what to expect in conference play, the same might ring true for the opposition as well.
Speaking of the MACCC, the Rangers will open the conference portion of the schedule on Monday, January 13, when the Copiah-Lincoln Wolves visit the Five Star City. Northwest has dropped each of its last three meetings against Co-Lin, which will prove to be a formidable test.
Other MACCC programs scheduled to visit Senatobia include Holmes, Mississippi Delta, Pearl River, East Central, Itawamba and Mississippi Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, the Rangers are slated to travel to nationally-ranked Jones College, East Mississippi, Northeast, Coahoma, Hinds, Meridian and Southwest Mississippi.
All home games this season will be carried once again on Action News 5 Plus in the Memphis/Mid-South region, accessible via the Action News 5 app or on your digital antenna at Channel 5.3. The games will also be streamed online via Ranger TV, by visiting nwccrangers.com/watch. Tyler Springs and Matt Infield will rotate play-by-play duties, with Northwest sports information director Brian Lentz filling in as needed.
SHAVURDACOUR NICHOLAS JA’QUISE RICHMOND KEANU PATRICK
2024-25 SEASON OPPONENTS
National Park College
November 1 • 5 P.M. • West Memphis, Ark. • The Dog House
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Hot Springs National Park, Ark.
Founded: 2003
Enrollment: 2,768
President: Dr. John Hogan
Athletic Director: Rich Thompson Conference: NJCAA Region II
Nickname: Nighthawks
Colors: Blue, White and Dark Grey
Arena: Oaklawn Foundation Gym (“The Kettle”)
Head Coach: Dion Hargrove
2023-24 Record: 31-1
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Mark Oliver
Phone: (501) 760-6419
Email: Mark.Oliver@np.edu
Web Address: np.edu
Series History: National Park leads series 2-0
First Meeting: November 4, 2022 in West Memphis, Ark (National Park College 92, Northwest 79)
Last Meeting: November 3, 2023 in West Memphis, Ark. (National Park College 92, Northwest 88)
Holmes
November 7 • 7:30 P.M. • Goodman, Miss. • Frank Branch Coliseum
January 21 • 7:30 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Howard Coliseum
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Goodman, Miss.
Founded: 1925
Enrollment: 5,678
President: Dr. Jim Haffey
Athletic Director: Andy Wood Conference: MACCC
Nickname: Bulldogs
Colors: Cardinal, Black & White
Arena: Frank Branch Coliseum
Head Coach: Jason Flanigan
2023-24 Record: 23-9 (9-5 MACCC)
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Steve Diffey
Phone: (662) 472-9068
Email: sdiffey@holmescc.edu
Web Address: holmesathletics.com
Series History: Northwest leads series 82-51
First Meeting: 1939 (no date or result recorded)
Arkansas State Mid-South
November 2 • 2 P.M. • West Memphis, Ark. • The Dog House
November 18 • 6 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Howard Coliseum
QUICK FACTS:
Location: West Memphis, Ark.
Founded: 1992
Enrollment: 657
President: Dr. Debra West
Athletic Director: Jeremy Reece
Conference: NJCAA Region II
Nickname: Greyhounds
Colors: Red & Black
Arena: The Dog House
Head Coach: Cody Hastings 2023-24 Record: 17-15
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: None (refer to AD)
Phone: (870) 733-6786
Email: jreece@asumidsouth.edu
Web Address: asumidsouthsports.com
Series History: Northwest leads series 15-11
Last Meeting: January 29, 2024 in Goodman, Miss. (Holmes 79, Northwest 64)
First Meeting: November 13, 2010 in Marion, Ark. (Arkansas State Mid-South 82, Northwest 78)
Last Meeting: November 9, 2023 in Senatobia, Miss. (Arkansas State Mid-South 75, Northwest 61)
Coahoma
November 14 • 7:30 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Howard Coliseum
February 6 • 7:30 P.M. • Clarksdale, Miss. • The Pinnacle
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Clarksdale, Miss.
Founded: 1949
Enrollment: 1,860
President: Dr. Valmadge Towner
Athletic Director: Selina Reid Conference: MACCC
Nickname: Tigers
Colors: Maroon & Silver
Arena: The Pinnacle
Head Coach: Dell Cannon
2023-24 Record: 11-12 (3-11 MACCC)
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Jerome Coley
Phone: (662) 621-4157
Email: jcoley@coahomacc.edu
Web Address: coahomasports.com
Series History: Northwest leads series 86-16
First Meeting: 1972 (no date recorded): Northwest won by forfeit
Last Meeting: February 15, 2024 in Senatobia, Miss. (Northwest 66, Coahoma 59)
2024-25 SEASON OPPONENTS
Louisiana Knights Post Grad Academy
November 21 • 7:30 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Howard Coliseum
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Founded: 2022
Enrollment: N/A
President: N/A
Athletic Director: N/A
Conference: None
Nickname: Knights
Colors: Black & Red
Arena: N/A
Head Coach: Johnny Clark
2023-24 Record: N/A
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: None
Phone: None
Email: None
Web Address: laknightspostgradacademy.com
Series History: First meeting
Mississippi Delta
December 2 • 7:30 P.M. • Moorhead, Miss. • J.T. Hall Coliseum
January 27 • 7:30 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Howard Coliseum
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Moorhead, Miss.
Founded: 1926
Enrollment: 3,609
President: Dr. Tyrone Jackson
Athletic Director: Jason Conner
Conference: MACCC
Nickname: Trojans
Colors: Red & Black
Arena: J.T. Hall Coliseum
Head Coach: Derrick Fears
2023-24 Record: 8-19 (2-12 MACCC)
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: Jason Conner
Phone: (662) 246-6479
Email: jconner@msdelta.edu
Web Address: mdcctrojans.com
Series History: Northwest leads series 89-40
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
December 5 • 6 P.M. • Senatobia, Miss. • Howard Coliseum
QUICK FACTS:
Location: Helena-West Helena, Ark.
Founded: 1965
Enrollment: 2,350
President: Dr. Keith Pinchback
Athletic Director: Kevin Martin-Arnold Conference: NJCAA Region II
Nickname: Lady Ridge Runners
Colors: Red & Blue
Arena: PCCUA Campus Gym
Head Coach: Anthony McDonald
2023-24 Record: None
(*program is returning from hiatus; previously existed from the 1960s-1990)
SPORTS INFORMATION FACTS:
Sports Information Director: None (refer to AD)
Phone: (870) 338-6474, ext. 1363
Email: karnold@pccua.edu
Web Address: pccua.edu/athletics
Series History: Northwest leads series 18-8
First Meeting: 1968-69 season (no date recorded) (Phillips County 95, Northwest 80)
Last Meeting: January 14, 1984 in Senatobia, Miss. (Northwest 91, Phillips County 73)
First Meeting: 1930 (no date recorded) (Northwest 21, Mississippi Delta 19)
Last Meeting: February 5, 2024 in Moorhead, Miss. (Northwest 85, Mississippi Delta 69)
Missouri State-West Plains
December 13 • 5 P.M. • Booneville, Miss. • Bonner Arnold Coliseum
Sophomore guard DARREN DAVIS led Northwest in several statistical categories last season, including points per game (13.9) and rebounds per game (6.5).
2023-24 IN REVIEW
NORTHWEST INDIVIDUAL GAME HIGHS
Points
Field Goals Made
Field Goal Attempted
Field Goal Percentage (minimum: five made shots)
Three-Pointers Made
Three-Pointers Attempted
Three-Point Shooting Percentage (minimum: two made shots)
30 Darren Davis vs. Motlow State (12/8/23)
12 Darren Davis vs. Motlow State (12/8/23)
21 Darren Davis vs. Motlow State (12/8/23)
.833 (5-6) Marquavous Jones at Coahoma (11/16/23)
.833 (5-6) Tyler Spears vs. Jones College (2/1/24)
.833 (5-6) Nolan Wells at Itawamba (2/26/24)
.833 (5-6) Shah Hall at Itawamba (2/26/24)
5 Nolan Wells at Mississippi Delta (2/5/24)
9 Thomas Tangle at Mississippi Gulf Coast (3/4/24)
1.000 (3-3) Nolan Wells vs. National Park College (11/3/23)
1.000 (2-2) Nolan Wells at Itawamba (2/26/24)
1.000 (2-2) DeShun Dunn vs. National Park College (11/3/23)
1.000 (2-2) Keanu Patrick at Arkansas State Mid-South (11/4/23)
Free Throws Made 8 Shavurdacour Nicholas vs. Dyersburg State (1/6/24)
Free Throws Attempted
Free Throw Percentage (minimum: three made shots)
8 Shavurdacour Nicholas at Itawamba (2/26/24)
12 Marquavous Jones vs. State Fair (12/9/23)
12 Shavurdacour Nicholas at Itawamba (2/26/24)
1.000 (6-6) Darren Davis at Coahoma (11/16/23)
1.000 (6-6) Keanu Patrick vs. Copiah-Lincoln (1/11/24)
1.000 (5-5) Jordan Ealey vs. Holmes (11/13/23)
1.000 (4-4) Darren Davis vs. National Park College (11/3/23)
1.000 (4-4) Nolan Wells vs. Southwest Mississippi (2/3/24)
1.000 (4-4) Nolan Wells at Itawamba (2/26/24)
1.000 (4-4) DeShun Dunn vs. National Park College (11/3/23)
1.000 (4-4) Tyler Spears at Copiah-Lincoln (1/22/24) 1.000 (4-4) Shah Hall at Itawamba (2/26/24) 1.000 (3-3) Thomas Tangle at Itawamba (2/26/24)
Darren Davis vs. Motlow State (12/8/23)
DeShun Dunn at Mississippi Delta (2/5/24)
DeShun Dunn at East Central (2/20/24)
Keanu Patrick vs. Dyersburg State (11/6/23)
Darren Davis vs. Mississippi Delta (11/30/23)
Darren Davis vs. Southwest Mississippi (2/3/24)
Thomas Tangle vs. Copiah-Lincoln (1/11/24)
Ja’Quise Richmond vs. Dyersburg State (11/6/23)
Shah Hall vs. Hinds (2/22/24)
DeShun Dunn at Itawamba (2/26/24)
Shavurdacour Nicholas at Coahoma (11/16/23)
Devin Moore at Holmes (1/29/24)
Keanu Patrick at Mississippi Gulf Coast (3/4/24)
NOLAN WELLS
DESHUN DUNN
DEVIN MOORE
FIRST TEAM
ALL-MACCC
2023-24 IN REVIEW
ALL-NJCAA REGION 23
Dimp Pernell G Jones College
Tyler Byrd G Northeast
Cameron Wallace F Holmes
Austin Green F Pearl River
Mark Drone G Southwest Mississippi
Duran Parish G Mississippi Gulf Coast
Ky Pernell G Jones College
Caleb Parr G Northeast
SECOND TEAM
Jabbari Barry G Mississippi Gulf Coast
Bryson Dawkins G Itawamba
Tylik Weeks F Southwest Mississippi
Andrew Mason G East Mississippi
Jaqai Murray F Coahoma
Courterius Scott G Copiah-Lincoln
Nick Walker F East Mississippi
Jaden Slaughter G Coahoma
HONORABLE MENTION
Emmanuel Jones F Copiah-Lincoln
Calexis Campbell G Meridian
Tremaine Dixon, Jr. G East Mississippi
Jakobe Singleton G Hinds
Connor Rogers G East Central
Hobert Grayson F Holmes
L.J. Hackman G Jones College
Allen Hughes G Northeast
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dimp Pernell G Jones College
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Cameron Wallace F Holmes
COACH OF THE YEAR
Newton Mealer Jones College
Cord Wright Northeast
Dimp Pernell G Jones College
Tyler Byrd G Northeast
Cameron Wallace F Holmes
Austin Green F Pearl River
Mark Drone G Southwest Mississippi
Duran Parish G Mississippi Gulf Coast
Ky Pernell G Jones College
Caleb Parr G Northeast
Jarrell Love F Baton Rouge
Courtney McCarthy G Baton Rouge
NEXT LEVEL RANGERS
Alabama, Univ. of
Shelby McEwen, G (2017)*
Bluefield State College
Dajon Reno, G (2014)
Alabama State University
Therrell Gosier II, F (2018)
Alcorn State University
Dante Sterling, F (2017)
Martrevious Sanders, G (2011)
Appalachian State University
R.J. Duhart, F (2020)
Arkansas, Univ. of
Robert Proctor (1953)
Arkansas at Little Rock, Univ. of
DeAntoni Gordon, F (2021)
Reggie Fondren, G (2011)
Byron Ray, F (2005)
Arkansas at Monticello, Univ. of
Keelin Jackson, G (2017)
Tyrin Jones, G (2016)
Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Univ. of
Derrius Nelson, G (2008)
Arkansas State University
Shawn Morgan, F (2006)
Adrian Banks, G (2006)
Jamie Rosser, G (1999)
Austin Peay State University
Dre’Kalo Clayton, F (2016)
Central Florida, Univ. of Marcus Avant, F (2003)
Charleston Southern University
R.J. Duhart, F (2022)
Charlotte, Univ. of North Carolina at Galen Young, F (1996)
Clark Atlanta University
Jordan Hulsey, C (2013)
Clemson University
Jamar McKnight, G (2000)
Columbia College
Andre Amos, G (2002)
Khamari Ballard, G (2002)
Columbus State University
DeMarcus McVay, F (2013)
Delta State University
Darren Davis, F (2024)
LaJustin Anderson, G (2015)
John Hudson, C (2011)
Justin Neely, G (2005)
Todd Richardson, F (1998)
Cedric Matthews (1992)
Jim Miles (1963)
Kenny Hunt (1960)
A.C. Williams, Jr. (1937)
Drury University
Hollis Miller (1972)
*Former Northwest basketball student-athlete SHELBY MCEWEN signed with Alabama track and field following his hoops career. He has since competed in the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympic Games, earning a silver medal in the high jump last summer.
Bethel University
Steven Walker, C (2002)
East Carolina University
Tremont Robinson, G (2018)
Seth LeDay, F (2016)
GALEN YOUNG
NEXT LEVEL RANGERS
Florida Atlantic University
Isaiah Gaines, F (2022)
Middle Tennessee State University
Jonathan Loe, G (2004)
Fort Hays State University
Terry Jeffries, G (2007)
Georgia Southern University
Carlos Curry, F (2021)
Georgia Southwestern State
Maurice Rhodes, F (2001)
Jackson State University
Adrain Terry, G (2001)
Lamar University
Justin Nabors, F (2007)
Currye Todd, G (2005)
Lamar Sanders, F (2005)
Lambuth University
Donnie Haywood, G (2008)
LeMoyne-Owen College
Aston Morton, G (2015)
Louisiana at Monroe, Univ. of
Larry Parker, F (2002)
Lindsey Wilson College
Antonio Logwood, G (2007)
Maryland Eastern Shore, Univ. of
Akeem Anderson, F (2011)
Memphis, Univ. of
Joseph Cooper, G (2023)
Shannon Forman, F (1999)
Don Randolph (1961)
Mississippi, Univ. of
LaTaryl Williams, F (1998)
Marcus Hicks, F (1998)
Jamie Howell, Sr. (1958)
Mississippi College
Clinton Moses, G (2018)
Isaiah Austin, F (2017)
Tristan Moore, G (2014)
Bernard Jones, G (2013)
Willie Williams, C (2012)
Donnie Haywood, G (2009)
Cederick Hilliard, G (2009)
Dejuan Davis, G (2008)
Jonathan Stokes, F (2007)
Marcus Harris, G (2004)
Ricardo Sacks, F (2002)
Mississippi State University
Trey Jackson, G (2021)
Tevin Moore, G (2013)
Leslie Buford (1931)
Mississippi Valley State University
Jaylon Sanders, G (2022)
Ernest Minton, F (2022)
Mount Olive, Univ. of D.J. Flippin, F (2016)
Trey Jackson, G (2021)
Nicholls State University
Jitaurious Gordon, G (2020)
North Alabama, Univ. of
Sharwyn McGee, F (2015)
Greg Mabry, F (1999)
Point Park University
Reggie Gaddis, F (2003)
MUW
LAMAR SANDERS
DE’SEAN DOCKERY
NEXT LEVEL RANGERS
Radford University
Isaiah Gaines, F (2024)
Tennessee Southern, Univ. of
Darius Woods, G (2012)
Jarvis Young, G (2004)
Patrick Hailey, F (1994)
West Georgia, Univ. of Antonio Shaw, F (2004)
Jamie Martin G (1996)
St. Bonaventure University
Brian Gibbs, F (2004)
Southern University
Brandon Byars, F (2007)
Southern Arkansas, Univ. of De’Sean Dockery, G (2015)
Anthony Ball, F (2001)
Southern Mississippi, Univ. of
DeAntoni Gordon, F (2024)
South Carolina at Aiken, Univ. of
Jakobi Pearson, G (2020)
Tennessee State University
Cedric Anderson, F (2000)
Tennessee Tech University
Reggie Nelson, F (1997)
Texas at Permian Basin, Univ. of
Miles Washington, F (2018)
Texas State University
Rory Green, G (2004)
Texas Wesleyan University
Justin Flakes, G (2017)
Western Kentucky University
Joemal Campbell, G (2005)
William Carey University
Ashton Woodson, G (2015)
Williams Baptist University
Dwayne Thompson, C (1994)
Southeastern Louisiana University
Willie Brown, F (1972)
Wilbert Beard, G (1972)
Southwest Baptist University
Reggie Brown, F (2011)
Southwestern University
James Johnson (1932)
Tabor College
D.J. Biggs, G (2013)
Tennessee at Chattanooga, Univ. of
Jason Rogan, G (2002)
Tennessee at Martin, Univ. of
Michael Jackson, G (2000)
Trevecca Nazarene University
Sebastian Petty, G (2016)
Troy University
Jitaurious Gordon, G (2019)
Eliot Smith, G (2000)
Jacova Jenkins, F (1999)
Detric Golden, G (1997)
PeeWee Thornton, G (1994)
Sanchez Blake, G (1994)
Tuskegee University
Jaylan Shelton, G (2017)
Valdosta State University
Kevin Harris, G (2009)
West Alabama, Univ. of Charles Eaton, G (2013)
Delaine Rockette, G (1994)
JASON ROGAN
SCORING LEADERS
Scoring (Minimum Requirement: 75% of Games Played)
JAMAR MCKNIGHT
ADRIAN BANKS
TREMONT ROBINSON
SCORING LEADERS
30+ Point Games (126)
PTS
33 Ken Hunt Hinds Mar. 6, 1959 Senatobia
33 Jerry Hasselman Southwest Mississippi Dec. 17, 1965 Summit
33 Jerry Hasselman Mississippi Delta Feb. 9, 1965 Senatobia
33 Glenn Bien Mississippi Delta Dec. 16, 1968 n/a
33 Larry Farmer Delta State (jv) Jan. 1970 Cleveland
33 Willie Brown Mississippi Delta Nov. 16, 1971 Moorhead
33 Lester Rose Mississippi Delta Feb. 1, 1988 Senatobia
33 Sanchez Blake Holmes Jan. 11, 1994 Goodman
33 Pee Wee Thornton East Mississippi Dec. 9, 1994 Senatobia
33 Jamie Martin Mississippi Delta Feb. 7, 1996 Moorhead
33 Marcus Hicks Pearl River Mar. 5, 1998 Clinton
33 Trey Ivy Coahoma Feb. 20, 2003 Senatobia
Southwest Mississippi Nov. 3, 2008 Summit
Hasselman at Copiah-Lincoln Dec. 16, 1965 Wesson 41 Lester Rose Mississippi Delta Feb. 14, 1989 Senatobia 41
Mississippi County Jan. 23, 1991 Senatobia 41
East Mississippi Dec. 9, 1994 Senatobia 39 Willie Brown Ole Miss (jv) 1971 Senatobia 39 Wilbert Beard Northeast Jan. 1971 Senatobia 39 Howard Taylor Mississippi Delta Jan. 1973 Senatobia 39 Cedric Matthews Itawamba Jan. 16, 1992 Senatobia
39 Detric Golden Northeast Dec. 5, 1996 Senatobia
39 Adrian Banks Iowa Western Mar. 21, 2006 Hutchinson
38 Lee Payton Ole Miss (jv) Dec. 1, 1973 Senatobia 38 Cedric Matthews Northeast Feb. 13, 1992 Senatobia 38 Derek Hall Mississippi Delta Jan. 30, 1995 Senatobia
37 Jerry Hasselman Holmes Dec. 6, 1965 Senatobia
37 Norris Boren East Central 1961 Senatobia
37 Kelly Norwood Phillips County Jan. 9, 1969 Senatobia
6. 1.2 Galen Young (62 games) 1994-96 1.2 Antonio Shaw (66 games) 2002-04
8. 1.0 Akeem Anderson (46 games) 2009-11
9. 0.9 Six Players Tied
STEALS
1. 192 Detric Golden 1995-97
2. 173 Galen Young 1994-96
3. 165 Joemal Campbell 2003-05
4. 164 Jason Rogan 2000-02
5. 140 Kevin Harris 2007-09
6. 134 Jamie Rosser 1997-99
7. 132 Antonio Logwood 2005-07
132 Adrian Banks 2004-06
9. 130 Shannon Forman 1997-99
10. 128 Antonio Shaw 2002-04
AVERAGE STEALS (min. 35 games)
1. 3.1 Pee Wee Thornton (40 games) 1992-94
2. 3.0 Eliot Smith (43 games) 1998-00
3. 2.9 Detric Golden (67 games) 1995-97
2.9 Kevin Harris (49 games) 2007-09
5. 2.8 Galen Young (62 games) 1994-96
6. 2.7 Jason Rogan (60 games) 2000-02
2.7 Joemal Campbell (62 games) 2003-05
8. 2.6 Justin Gillard (48 games) 2008-10
9. 2.3 Sanchez Blake (48 games) 1992-94
GAMES PLAYED
1. 68 Lamar Sanders 2003-05
2. 67 Marcus Harris 2002-04
67 Rodney Driver 1996-98
67 Detric Golden 1995-97
67 Lataryl Williams 1996-98
67 Adrian Banks 2004-06
7. 66 Marquis Orange 1996-98
66 Marcus Hicks 1996-98
66 Antonio Shaw 2002-04
66 Marcus Hicks 1996-98
JOEMAL CAMPBELL
ANTONIO LOGWOOD
SHARWYN MCGEE
ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
ALL-MACCC SELECTIONS
LARRY FARMER
JUSTIN NABORS
INDIVIDUAL
SUPERLATIVES
WHEN IT HAPPENED LAST
Scored 20 points in a game ............. Thomas Tangle - 22 pts. (March 4, 2024 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast)
Scored 30 points in a game Darren Davis - 30 pts. (December 8, 2023 vs. Motlow State)
Scored 40 points in a game Kevin Harris - 42 pts. (Nov. 3, 2008 @ Southwest Mississippi)
Scored 50 or more points in a game Cedric Matthews - 50 pts. (exact date unknown; 1992 vs. Mississippi Delta)
Earned 10 rebounds in a game Shah Hall - 10 rebs. (Feb. 22, 2024 vs. Hinds)
Earned 15 rebounds in a game Isaiah Gaines - 17 rebs. (Feb. 17, 2022 @ Copiah-Lincoln)
Earned 20 or more rebounds in a game Radarius “Pig” Washington - 20 rebs. (March 6, 2018 vs. SW Mississippi)
Earned 10 assists in a game Joseph Cooper - 10 assists (Nov. 14, 2022 vs. East Mississippi)
Earned more than 15 assists in a game N/A
Finished with a double-double (points, rebounds) Thomas Tangle - 12 & 10 (Jan. 6, 2024 @ Dyersburg State)
Finished with a double-double (points, assists) Joseph Cooper - 18 & 10 (Nov. 14, 2022 vs. East Mississippi)
Finished with a double-double (rebounds, assists) N/A
Finished with a triple-double Tremont Robinson - 12 pts, 12 rebs., 10 steals (Nov. 9, 2017 @ Tennessee Prep)
Finished with a quadruple-double N/A
Hit five or more three-pointers Nolan Wells - 5 (Feb. 5, 2024 @ Mississippi Delta)
Hit 10 or more free throws Ethan Pickett - 11 (Feb. 17, 2022 @ Copiah-Lincoln)
Finished with 10 or more steals Tremont Robinson - 10 (Nov. 9, 2017 @ Tennessee Prep)
Earned five or more steals Joseph Cooper - 5 (Jan. 18, 2022 @ Pearl River)
Blocked five or more shots Isaiah Gaines - 5 (Feb. 17, 2022 @ Copiah-Lincoln)
Finished season with 300 total points Jaylon Sanders - 342 pts. (2022-23)
Finished season with 20-point scoring average Jitaurious Gordon - 20.6 ppg (2018-19)
Finished season with 100 total rebounds Darren Davis - 129 rebs. (2022-23)
Finished season with 200 or more total rebounds Isaiah Gaines - 223 rebs. (2021-22)
Finished season with 100 total assists .......................... Joseph Cooper - 103 assists (2022-23)
Finished season with 120 or more total assists
Finished season with 50 total steals
Joseph Cooper - 120 assists (2021-22)
Jakobi Pearson - 55 steals (2019-20)
Finished season with 70 total steals Tremont Robinson - 121 steals (2017-18)
Finished season with 100 or more total steals .................. Tremont Robinson - 121 steals (2017-18)
Finished season with 30 blocked shots Isaiah Gaines - 41 blocks (2021-22)
Finished season with 50 or more blocked shots DeMarcus McVay - 71 blocks (2012-13)
TEAM
Scored 100 points in a single game Nov. 1, 2022 vs. Piney Woods Post Grad (W, 105-67)
Scored 110 points or more in a single game Jan. 6, 2020 vs. Tennessee Prep (W, 119-69)
Allowed 100 points in a single game Feb. 1, 2024 vs. Jones College (L, 67-102)
Allowed 110 points or more in a single game Feb. 7, 2019 @ Northeast (L, 101-112)
Scored 50 points in a half Feb. 21, 2023 @ Southwest Mississippi (L, 93-103; 51 second half points)
Allowed 50 points in a half Feb. 1, 2024 vs. Jones College (L, 67-102; 51 first and second half points)
Earned 50 rebounds in a game Nov. 30, 2023 vs. Mississippi Delta (56 rebs.; W, 72-56)
Gave up 50 rebounds in a game Jan. 11, 2024 vs. Copiah-Lincoln (50 rebs.; W, 87-60)
Made 40 field goals in a game Nov. 1, 2022 vs. Piney Woods Post Grad (49 field goals made; W, 105-67)
Made 20 or fewer field goals in a game Feb. 29, 2024 vs. Meridian (18 field goals made; L, 58-74)
Made 10 three-pointers in a game Feb. 5, 2024 @ Mississippi Delta (13 made; W, 85-69)
Made 15 or more three-pointers in a game March 4, 2021 vs. Holmes (15 made; L, 84-90; 2OT)
Made five or fewer three-pointers in a game Feb. 22, 2024 vs. Hinds (two made; L, 51-56)
Made 20 free throws in a game Feb. 26, 2024 @ Itawamba (25 made; L, 85-93)
Made 30 or more free throws in a game Nov. 27, 2018 vs. SAU Tech (31 made; W, 96-91)
Made five or fewer free throws in a game Feb. 5, 2024 @ Mississippi Delta (four made; W, 85-69)
Played in an overtime game Feb. 17, 2022 @ Copiah-Lincoln (W, 99-92; 2OT)
Won 20 games in a season 2017-18 (22 wins; 22-4 overall record)
Won 25 games in a season .................................... 2005-06 (29 wins; 29-4 overall record)
Won 30 or more games in a season 2004-05 (30 wins; 30-4 overall record)
KEVIN HARRIS
RADARIUS “PIG” WASHINGTON
CARLOS CURRY
1950-51
11-3
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
HOWARD STUBBS
One season • 1950-51 11-3
*** Peabody L, 36-52
*** Ole Miss JV W, 70-34
*** Itawamba W, 42-34
*** Northeast W, 70-51
*** Holmes L, 61-62
*** Holmes W, 60-42
*** Hinds W, 54-52
*** Itawamba W, 72-70
*** East Central W, 80-61
*** Hinds W, 52-51
*** Mississippi Delta L, 45-74
*** East Central W, 67-54
*** Jones County W, 58-56
*** Jones County W, 55-49
W.C. “BILL” OAKLEY
Seven seasons* • 1958-65 57-32*
*Oakley coached a total of seven seasons at Northwest, but records were not kept for 1959-60, 1960-61 or 1963-64 seasons. As a result, his career coaching record shown reflects only four of his seven seasons.
1958-59
14-8
*** Ole Miss JV L, 77-97
*** Copiah-Lincoln L, 87-94
*** Mississippi State JV L, 72-77
*** East Central W, 90-77
*** East Mississippi L, 77-83
*** Memphis State JV W, 89-70
*** East Mississippi W, 111-78
*** Northeast L, 88-108
*** Holmes W, 92-58
*** Clarke College W, 100-91
*** Memphis State JV W, 86-84
*** Northeast W, 100-86
COACH
HARRISON One season • 1951-52 3-11
*** Holmes L, 48-61
*** Itawamba L, 53-73
*** Holmes L, 65-78
*** Mississippi Delta W, 53-51
*** East Central L, 65-88
*** Jones County L, 56-80
*** Northeast L, 65-89
*** Jones County L, 68-89
*** Jones County L, 67-69
*** East Mississippi L, 68-75
*** Dixie Sheet Metal L, 57-59
*** Mississippi Delta W, 70-67
*** Northeast W, 75-74
*** Southwest Mississippi L, 69-80
*** Mississippi Delta W, 86-84
*** Clarke College W, 109-88
*** East Mississippi W, 78-69
*** Mississippi State (jv) L, 69-75
*** Mississippi Delta L, 74-83
The first college basketball team at Northwest (then known as Tate-Quitman Junior College) took the court for the 1929-30 season, finishing 7-7 overall. Though the college fielded teams in the following years, no other records were kept until the start of the 1950-51 season.
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
*Game-by-game results from the 1961-62 season were not recorded or kept on file.
Though much of the basketball history at Northwest remains scattered at best prior to 1965, there’s no doubt that HENRY B. KOON’s seven-year tenure as the Rangers’ head coach remains one of the best in program history. Here, Koon is seen celebrating his 100th career coaching victory with members of the Rangers’ basketball team.
Although their postseason stay proved to be a short one, the 1965-66 Ranger basketball team became the first of several teams coached by Koon to make the playoffs.
1968-69
16-11 / 8-4
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
*** Copiah-Lincoln W, 95-77
*** Southwest W, 81-76
*** East Mississippi* W, 76-75
*** East Central W, 83-0
*** Holmes* L, 50-52
*** Phillips County L, 80-95
*** Ole Miss L, 53-56
*** Christian Brothers L, 64-71
*** East Central W, 93-70
*** East Mississippi* W, 81-60
*** Mississippi Delta* W, 97-73
*** Itawamba* L, 66-84
*** Phillips County W, 104-95
*** Delta State L, 61-68
*** Delta State L, 67-68
*** Ole Miss W, 71-70
*** Christian Brothers W, 100-83
*** Northeast* L, 60-62
*** Mississippi Delta* W, 110-78
*** East Central W, 72-66
*** East Mississippi* W, 82-68
*** Itawamba* L, 47-65
*** Holmes* W, 75-62
*** Northeast* L, 55-59
*denotes North Division match
1969-70 15-11 / 9-5
*** East Mississippi* L, 65-75
*** East Central* W, 97-69
*** Holmes* L, 67-73
*** Phillips County W, 82-79
*** Phillips County L, 89-102 *** East Mississippi* W, 93-92
*** Mississippi Gulf Coast # L, 58-78 *denotes North Division match
^ North Half Tournament
# MACJC Tournament
The 1971-72 season brought Koon his first and only titles, as Northwest finished as both the North Division champions and the overall conference champions, along with a nowformer program record of 25 victories.
The 1969-70 Northwest team helped Coach Koon to his first MACJC Tournament appearance, finishing with 15 victories and a 9-5 North Division record.
1970-71
13-9 / 8-4
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
*** Southern Baptist W, 97-70
*** Holmes* W, 69-68
*** Phillips County W, 88-83
*** Southern Baptist L, 64-81
*** East Central* W, 109-82
*** East Mississippi* W, 92-64
*** Mississippi Delta* L, 76-86
*** Phillips County L, 75-91
*** Ole Miss JV L, 75-99
*** Itawamba* L, 54-60
*** Northeast* L, 80-81
*** Christian Brothers W, 58-55
*** Mississippi Delta* W, 107-81
*** East Central* W, 73-71
*** East Mississippi* W, 80-76
*** Itawamba* L, 72-81
*** Holmes* W, 67-46
*** East Mississippi ^ W, 80-72
*** Mississippi Delta ^ L, 67-72
*denotes North Division match ^ North Half Tournament
1971-72
25-5 / 11-0
MACJC North Division/Conference Champions
*** Itawamba* W, 72-60
*** Holmes* W, 58-39
*** Mississippi Delta* W, 109-83
*** Phillips County W, 116-114 (2OT)
*** East Mississippi* W, 102-82
*** East Central W, 92-63
*** Northeast* W, 83-71
*** Dyersburg State W, 108-88
*** Ole Miss JV L, 65-77
*** Jackson State (Tenn.) W, 100-86
*** Arkansas State JV W, 86-77
*** Itawamba* W, 69-56
*** Holmes* W, 60-45
*** Mississippi Delta* W, 95-74
*** Phillips County W, 113-90
*** East Mississippi * W, 2-0 (forfeit)
*** East Central* W, 120-74
*** Northeast* W, 84-72
*** Dyersburg State L, 73-74
*** Ole Miss JV W, 83-69
*** Jackson State (Tenn.) L, 77-119
*** Arkansas State JV L, 80-81
*** Holmes ^ W, 84-66
*** Itawamba ^ W, 69-56
*** Hinds # W, 84-78
*** Copiah-Lincoln # W, 103-82
*** Mississippi Delta % W, 113-79
*** Utica % W, 94-89
*** Coahoma % W, (forfeit)
*** Martin College (Tenn.) % L, 71-84
*denotes North Division match
^ North Division Tournament
# MACJC Tournament % Region Tournament
1972-73
18-7 / 12-0
NOEL AKINS
Three seasons • 1972-75 50-22 overall (30-6 MACJC)
In his swan song season as the Rangers’ head coach, NOEL AKINS led the 1974-75 squad to a 20-win season and the Region VII Tournament. Akins concluded his career with 50 victories and the 1973 North Division championship.
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
1975-76
15-6 / 8-4
KENNETH “CAT” ROBBINS
N17 Mississippi County
101-56
N24 @ Shelby State L, 70-71
N25 @ Itawamba*
D1 @ Dyersburg State
D4 @ Coahoma*
D8 Phillips County
D11 East Central
D12 East Mississippi*
J8 @ Mississippi Delta*
J12 Coahoma*
J15 Shelby State
J17 @ Phillips County
J19 Northeast*
J22 @ Holmes*
J26 Holmes*
J29 @ East Central
56-65
77-73
90-82
94-98
91-62
61-59
69-62
73-71
83-66
93-76
77-56
73-88
74-71
72-64
J30 @ East Mississippi* L, 52-54
F2 @ Northeast*
F5 @ Mississippi County
F10 Itawamba*
F12 Mississippi Delta*
North Division match
Itawamba*
78-80
83-76
70-64
67-66
86-71
88-60
In just his second season in the head coaching role, Northwest Sports Hall of Famer KENNETH “CAT” ROBBINS guided the 1976-77 Rangers to 21
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
*** Phillips County L, 76-91
*** Coahoma* L, 58-60
*** @ Delta State L, 69-80
*** @ Shelby State L, 38-39
*** @ Dyersburg State W, 66-52
*** Shelby State L, 77-86
*** @ Itawamba* W, 66-63
*** East Mississippi* W, 93-75
*** @ Holmes* L, 78-79
*** @ Northeast* L, 45-57
*** @ Coahoma* W, 47-38
*** @ Delta State W, 67-61
*** Itawamba* W, 66-61
*** @ East Mississippi* L, 59-65
*** Holmes* L, 15-17
*** @ Meridian* W, 68-65
*** Holmes ^ W, 67-57
*** East Mississippi ^ W, 68-56
*** Northeast ^ L, 45-55
*denotes North Division match ^ MACJC Tournament
1978-79
21-8 / 9-3
*** @ Shelby State L, 45-49
*** Phillips County W, 82-71
*** @ Hinds L, 57-79
*** @ Meridian W, 72-58
*** Northeast* W, 57-50
*** @ Bailey Tech W, 89-69
*** @ Coahoma* W, 84-62
*** Mississippi Delta* W, 67-53
*** @ Arkansas State W, 69-63
*** Southern Baptist W, 67-54
*** Shelby State L, 44-48
*** Itawamba* W, 74-69
*** @ East Mississippi* W, 84-60
*** @ Phillips County W, 78-65
*** Holmes* L, 55-57
*** Meridian W, 76-55
*** Bailey Tech W, 96-67
*** @ Northeast* L, 56-61
*** Coahoma* W, 71-48
*** @ Mississippi Delta* L, 57-59
*** Arkansas State W, 73-59
*** @ Itawamba* W, 78-55
*** East Mississippi* W, 69-55
*** @ Holmes* W, 56-50
*** Coahoma ^ W, 71-65
*** Mississippi Delta ^ W, 56-51
*** Itawamba ^ L, 55-58
*** Hinds # W, 70-56
*** Hinds # L, 47-50
*denotes North Division match ^ North Division Tournament # MACJC Tournament
1979-80
33-1 / 12-0
NJCAA Sweet 16 Appearance MACJC Champions/Region Champions
*Game-by-game results from the 1979-80 season were not recorded or kept on file.
1980-81
22-6 / 12-0
*Game-by-game results from the 1980-81 season were not recorded or kept on file.
1981-82
16-11 / 10-2
N9 Mary Holmes W, 74-59
N12 @ Hinds L, 66-70
N16 @ Mary Holmes L, 47-61
D1 @ Meridian W, 60-56
D3 Northeast* L, 57-60
D4 Shelby State L, 67-96
D7 Coahoma* W, 90-72
D10 @ Mississippi Delta* L, 53-57
D11 @ Paducah L, 51-52
D17 Jackson State (Tenn.) L, 53-55
J7 @ Shelby State L, 59-63
J11 Itawamba* W, 54-52
J14 @ East Mississippi* W, 55-53
J18 @ Holmes* W, 58-55
J21 Meridian W, 56-52
J25 @ Northeast*
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
W, 67-45
J28 @ Coahoma* W, 59-56
F1 Mississippi Delta* W, 70-55
F4 @ Itawamba* W, 66-62
F8 East Mississippi* W, 55-53
F11 Holmes* W, 54-59
M1 St. Catherine College ^ L, 79-80
*denotes North Division match
***MACJC Tournament results were not recorded ^ Region Tournament
1982-83
20-4 / 12-0
North Division/MACJC Champions
N11 @ Hinds
L, 83-85
N15 @ Cumberland W, 84-70
N17 @ Phillips County W, 88-83
N18 Moberly W, 76-66
N22 Paducah W, 72-64
N23 @ Mississippi County L, 49-53
N30 @ Meridian W, 95-66
D2 Northeast* W, 72-64
D4 Cumberland L, 88-92
D6 Coahoma* W, 97-84
D9 Mississippi Delta* W, 75-62
D16 Phillips County W, 60-55
J10 @ Itawamba* W, 106-77
J13 @ East Mississippi* W, 73-71
J17 @ Holmes* W, 68-60
J20 Meridian W, 80-55
J24 @ Northeast* W, 50-49
J27 @ Coahoma* W, 103-65
J31 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 80-65
F3 Itawamba* W, 99-65
F7 East Mississippi* W, 77-66
F10 Holmes* W, 73-65
** Gulf Coast ^ W, 72-71
** Copiah-Lincoln ^ L, 60-70
*denotes North Division match
***MACJC Tournament results were not recorded
^ Region XXIII Tournament
1983-84
23-4 / 12-0
North Division Champions
N11 Clarke College L, 76-78
N15 @ Southern Baptist W, 79-77
N17 @ Hinds W, 75-64
N21 Mississippi County W, 84-76
N29 Meridian W, 77-66
D1 @ Northeast* W, 78-64
D5 @ Coahoma* W, 120-94
D8 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 95-75
D14 Phillips County W, 85-78
J14 @ Phillips County W, 91-73
J16 Itawamba* W, 95-75
J23 East Mississippi* W, 87-62
J26 Holmes* W, 85-71
J30 Northeast* W, 86-63
F2 Coahoma * W,92-83
F6 Mississippi Delta* W, 90-64
F9 @ Itawamba* W, 86-73
F13 @ East Mississippi* W, 76-73
F16 @ Holmes* W, 105-87
*** Delgado # L (no score recorded)
*denotes North Division match
***MACJC Tournament results were not recorded ^ Region XXIII Tournament
Although game-by-game results were not recorded on permanent file for the 1979-80 season, Robbins posted his best season as a head coach, guiding Northwest to a stellar 33-1 record and the program’s first NJCAA National Tournament appearance.
1984-85
19-5 / 11-4
MACJC Champions
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
1985-86 13-11 / 5-7
F12
1986-87 14-10 / 6-6
North Division Champions/MACJC Runners-Up
*Game-by-game results from the 1986-87 season were not recorded or kept on file.
The 1986-87 Northwest squad fell short of a conference title, but the Rangers did collect the North Division title in what would be the last championship under Robbins’ tenure.
Robbins’ 1984-85 squad ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, earning the MACJC championship. Pictured here are Robbins (center) with assistant coaches Don Edwards (left) and Gaylon Baird (right).
1987-88
7-11 / 6-6
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
N5 Shelby State L, 78-100
N9 Southern Baptist L, 70-78
N11 @ Shelby State L, 82-95
N12 Hinds W, 102-74
N16 @ Southwest Mississippi L, 63-90
N19 @ Copiah-Lincoln L, 67-79
N30 @ Coahoma* W, 96-78
D3 Mississippi Delta* W, 94-90
D7 @ Northeast* L, 68-94
J14 East Mississippi* L, 69-86
J18 Holmes* L, 71-76
J25 Northeast* L, 60-69
J28 Coahoma* W, 70-68
F1 Mississippi Delta* W, 83-71
F4 Itawamba* W, 83-71
F8 @ East Mississippi* W, 76-69
F9 @ Itawamba* L, 73-75
** East Mississippi ^ L, 78-89
*denotes North Division match ^ North Division Tournament
1988-89
3-16 / 2-10
N10 @ Shelby State L, 88-121
N17 Southwest Mississippi L, 81-84
N21 Dyersburg State L, 104-112
N22 Shelby State L, 92-107
N28 @ Dyersburg State L, 71-73
N29 @ Mississippi Delta* L, 81- 91
D1 Holmes* L, 69-92
D5 @ Itawamba* W, 81-63
D8 Northeast* L, 84-101
J10 @ East Mississippi* L, 79-85
J12 Coahoma* W, 87-77
J16 Rhodes College JV W, 90-55
J19 Mississippi Delta* L, 78-88
J23 @ Holmes* L, 70-75
J26 Itawamba* L, 73-93
J30 @ Northeast* L, 75-78
F2 East Mississippi* L, 77-79
F7 @ Coahoma* L, 71-88
F14 Mississippi Delta ^ L, 86-92
*denotes North Division match; ^ North Division Tournament
1989-90 10-10 / 7-5
N6 @ Dyersburg State W, 95-81
N7 @ Shelby State L, 94-113
N15 Shelby State L, 80-84
N20 Southwest Mississippi L, 70-76
N28 @ Mary Holmes W, 74-72
D4 Itawamba* W, 72-67
D7 @ Northeast* L, 83-98
J9 East Mississippi* L, 81-93 (ot)
J11 @ Coahoma* W, 62-52
J15
J18
J22 Holmes* L, 75-77
J25 @ Itawamba* W, 82-69
J29 Northeast* L, 101-107 F1
1990-91 13-12 / 4-8
N5
J15
J21
J24
J28
J31
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
F4 @ Mississippi Delta* L, 90-94
F7 Holmes* L, 87-96
F11 Itawamba* W, 87-82
F14 Northeast* L, 107-121
*denotes North Division match
^ Garland County CC Tournament (Hot Springs, Ark.)
1991-92
6-12 / 5-7
*** Muscle Shoals
L, 93-108
*** Pensacola State L, 95-97
*** Mississippi County L, 89-110
*** Copiah-Lincoln L, 76-77
*** East Mississippi* W, 85-76
*** @ Coahoma* W, 98-88
*** @ Mississippi Delta* W, 127-88
*** Holmes* L, 72-82
*** Itawamba* L, 92-100
*** @ Northeast* L, 99-109
*** @ Mississippi County W, 124-109 (OT)
*** @ East Mississippi* W, 103-94
*** Coahoma* L, 93-97
*** Mississippi Delta* L, 97-98
*** @ Holmes* W, 86-76
*** @ Itawamba* L, 99-130
*** Northeast* L, 82-106
*** East Mississippi ^ L, 96-116
*denotes North Division match
^ North Division Tournament
1992-93
3-18 / 0-12
*** @ Muscle Shoals L, 105-129
*** Jackson State (Tenn.) W, 119-93
*** @ Copiah-Lincoln L, 87-92
*** @ Southwest Mississippi W, 91-88
*** Dyersburg State L, 115-119
*** Copiah-Lincoln L, 67-92
*** Southwest Mississippi L, 67-87
*** Coahoma* L, 78-98
*** @ Dyersburg State W, 113-108
*** @ Itawamba* L, 87-90
*** @ East Mississippi* L, 70-77
*** @ Holmes* L, 57-76
*** Mississippi Delta* L, 88-98
*** Northeast* L, 97-98
*** @ Coahoma* L, 54-77
*** @ Itawamba* L, 67-77 *** East Mississippi* L, 61-80
Five seasons • 1993-98 129-31 overall (49-11 MACJC)
*** Jackson State (Tenn.) W, 120-90
*** Dyersburg State W, 111-89
*** @ Dyersburg State W, 103-85
*** @ Christian Brothers W, 123-91
*** @ Central Baptist W, 113-83
*** @ Southwest Mississippi L, 106-114
*** Copiah-Lincoln W, 81-72
*** @ Jefferson Davis W, 88-85
*** @ Okaloosa-Walton L, 71-89
*** @ Jackson State W, 115-100
*** Coahoma* W, 102-84
*** @ Itawamba* L, 78-94
*** East Mississippi* W, 120-79
*** @ Holmes* W, 99-83
*** Mississippi Delta* L, 82-95
*** @ Northeast* L, 79-115
*** @ Coahoma* W, 98-79
*** @ Copiah-Lincoln W, 109-98
*** Itawamba* L, 86-88
*** @ East Mississippi* W, 100-97
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
*** Holmes* W, 102-81
*** @ Mississippi Delta* W, 110-86
*** Northeast* W, 108-106
*** Holmes ^ W, 87-72
*** Northeast ^ L, 88-115
*** East Central # L, 101-103
*** Delgado # W, 118-104
*** Northeast # W, 102-97
*** Bossier Parish # L, 81-82
*denotes North Division match
^ MACJC Tournament
# Region XXIII Tournament
/ 9-3
N3 @ Jackson State (Tenn.) W, 96-91
N4 @ Volunteer State W, 96-70
N8 Shelby State W, 110-107
N10 Southwest Mississippi W, 83-67
N14 @ Shelby State W, 122-87
N17 Copiah-Lincoln W, 84-61
N21 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast W, 88-75
N22 @ East Central W, 78-60
N29 Northeast* L, 90-92
D1 @ Coahoma* W, 106-64
D5 Holmes* L, 86-88
D8 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 100-86
J6 @ Copiah-Lincoln W, 107-97
J7 @ Southwest Mississippi W, 89-66
J10 Itawamba* W, 95-75
J12 Central Baptist W, 102-72
J17 @ East Mississippi* W, 69-67
J19 @ Northeast* W, 115-96
J23 Coahoma* W, 110-90
J26 @ Holmes* L, 69-82
J30 Mississippi Delta* W, 120-76
F2 @ Itawamba* W, 99-76
F9 East Mississippi* W, 92-81
F13 Coahoma ^ W, 102-71
F15 Holmes ^ L, 69-76 (OT)
F27 Pearl River # W, 84-64
M1 Northeast # L, 85-104
*denotes North Division match
^ North Division Tournament # Region 23 Tournament
North Division/MACJC Champions Region 23 Champions/NJCAA Tournament Appearance (finished #6 nationally)
D4
D7
J10
J12
J16
J20
M22
Tournament; & NJCAA Tournament
1996-97
28-4 / 12-0
North Division/MACJC Champions
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
1997-98
29-7 / 10-2
North Division/MACJC Champions NJCAA Tournament Appearance
N1 @ Southwest Missouri State W, 92-74
N2 State Fair ^ W, 86-79
N5 Walker W, 82-69
N11 @ Copiah-Lincoln L, 75-79
N14 @ Shelby State W, 98-91
N16 Shorter College W, 100-84
N18 @ Hinds W, 87-64
N21 Copiah-Lincoln L, 45-54
N25 Bishop State # W, 91-74
N26 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast W, 93-76
D3 @ Holmes* W, 98-67
D5 Northeast* W, 105-95
D7 @ Walker W, 106-84
J7 Mississippi Delta* W, 106-36
J9 @ East Mississippi* W, 91-62
J13 Itawamba* W, 83-60
J16 Shelby State W, 83-76
J21 @ Coahoma* W, 88-75
J27 @ Northeast* W, 99-85
J30 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 104-66
F3 East Mississippi* W, 74-38
F6 @ Itawamba* W, 99-63
F10 @ Shorter College L, 72-83
F13 Coahoma* W, 100-79
F19 Itawamba % W, 97-71
F20 Coahoma % W, 70-50
F24 Copiah-Lincoln & W, 78-57
F25 Pearl River & W, 116-113 (2OT)
M3 Hinds ! W, 86-65
M5 Copiah-Lincoln ! W, 70-67
M6 Bossier Parish ! L, 61-80
*denotes North Division match
^ Game played at Southwest Missouri State (Springfield, Mo.)
# Game played at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, Miss.)
% North Division Tournament
& MACJC Tournament
! Region XXIII Tournament
N4 @ Aquinas W, 113-91
N10 Pearl River W, 126-87
N11 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast W, 84-80
N13 Shelby State W, 94-90
N15 @ Shorter College W, 85-83
N17 Hinds W, 84-69
N20 Southeast Illinois ^ W, 91-86
N21 Labette ^ W, 91-62
N22 @ SMSU-West Plains L, 98-111
D2 Holmes* W, 98-52
D4 @ Northeast* L, 83-88
D8 Copiah-Lincoln W, 62-56
J6 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 98-86
J10 East Mississippi* W, 86-58
J12 @ Itawamba* W, 138-66
J15 at Shelby State L, 88-92
J20 Coahoma*
F19
M20
*denotes North Division match
^ Games played at SMSU-West Plains (West Plains, Mo.)
#
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
DON “BUBBA” SKELTON
MARC DUKES took over the head coaching reins in 1993 and it didn’t take long for him to turn the Northwest men’s basketball program into a national powerhouse. Dukes spent five seasons leading the Rangers and left with only 11 conference losses during that span.
J5
Dukes’ third season saw the 1995-96 Rangers win 30 games, claiming the North Division, MACJC and Region XXIII championships en route to a final finish of No. 6 in the nation. The team’s 30 wins were also the most since the 1979-80 season (33).
J21
J25
J28
F1
F2
F4
F8
F10
F22
Dukes’ final season at Northwest ended with a pair of losses in the NJCAA Tournament, but not before the Rangers claimed another pair of North Division and MACJC titles, while earning 29 victories.
*denotes North Division match
^ Game played at SMSU-West Plains (West Plains, Mo.)
# Game played at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, Miss.)
% North Division Tournament & MACJC Tournament ! Region XXIII Tournament
North Division Champions
1999-2000
22-8 / 9-3
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
2000-01
27-7 / 10-2
N1 Dyersburg State W, 109-68
N8 Northwest Shoals W, 87-79
N9 Shelton State W, 99-65
N11 @ Hinds W, 93-71
N15 @ Crowley’s Ridge W, 92-76
N17 Shelby State L, 81-87
N22 Pearl River ^ W, 97-87
N23 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast L, 72-74
N30 @ Coahoma* W, 116-87
D2 Itawamba* L, 82-93
D7 @ Northwest Shoals W, 115-89
D9 Mississippi Delta* W, 97-81
J4 @ Dyersburg State W, 103-89
J8 East Mississippi* W, 101-81
J10 Northeast* W, 96-78
J13 @ Holmes* W, 82-61
J18 @ Shelby State W, 92-90
J20 Coahoma* W, 88-83
J24 @ Itawamba* W, 81-66
J31 @ East Mississippi* L, 77-80
F3 @ Northeast* L, 111-112 (OT)
F5 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 87-78
F7 Holmes* W, 91-73
F10 Bevill State W, 109-75
F14 Coahoma # W, 101-80
F16 Holmes # W, 90-67
F17 Northeast # L, 81-98
F21 Copiah-Lincoln % W, 80-79
F22 Northeast % L, 92-109
F29 Mississippi Gulf Coast & L, 75-76
*denotes North Division match
^ Game played at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, Miss.)
# North Division Tournament
% MACJC Tournament & Region XXIII Tournament
MACJC/North Division Champions Region 23 Champions/NJCAA Tournament Appearance
N6 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast W, 104-72
N8 Pearl River W, 112-96
N13 Copiah-Lincoln L, 76-89
N15 Northwest Shoals W, 108-67
N17 Hinds W, 91-81
N20 @ Southwest Mississippi L, 83-84
N28 East Central W, 91-69
N30 @ Coahoma* W, 101-68
D4 Holmes* W, 86-83
D7 @ Northwest Shoals W, 109-100
J4 @ Jones County L, 67-68
J8 Southwest Mississippi W, 91-78
J11 Mississippi Delta* W, 115-83
J16 @ Itawamba* L, 91-97
J18 Northeast* W,
F21
F22
F26
F27
M8
M23
SEASON OUTLOOK RANGERS! LET’S GO
2001-02
18-9 / 8-4
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
2002-03 22-11 / 7-5
Region 23 Champions/NJCAA Tournament Appearance
N8 @ Mary Holmes W, 99-75
N12 @ Hinds L, 85-94
N15 Southwest Mississippi L, 68-71
N19 Lawson State W, 111-86
N20 Copiah-Lincoln W, 104-78
N27 @ Lawson State W, 89-75
N29 Coahoma* W, 111-74
D3 @ Holmes* L, 74-76
D6 @ East Central W, 92-84
J10 Jones County W, 86-78
J14 @ Southwest Mississippi L, 97-106 (OT)
J17 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 92-77
J22 Itawamba* L, 76-96
J24 @ Northeast* L, 86-94
J28 East Mississippi* W, 80-60
J31 @ Coahoma* W, 93-80
F4 Holmes* W, 68-64
F7 Mary Holmes W, 102-64
F11 Mississippi Delta* W, 110-75
F14 @ Itawamba* L, 78-84
F18 Northeast* W, 96-78
F21 East Mississippi W, 92-84
F25 Mississippi Gulf Coast ^ W, 96-85
F27 Hinds ^ W, 88-68
F28 Holmes ^ L, 89-96
M5 Mississippi Gulf Coast # W, 75-73
M6 Bossier Parish # L, 91-117
*denotes North Division match
^ MACJC Tournament
# Region XXIII Tournament
N5 @ Southwest Tennessee L, 99-109
N7 Lawson State W, 91-78
N11 Hinds W, 108-85
N14 Southwest Mississippi W, 96-83
N19 @ Lawson State W, 97-94 (OT)
N21 Mississippi Gulf Coast W, 90-71
N25 Mary Holmes W, 95-80
N26 Copiah-Lincoln W, 83-62
D3 Southwest Tennessee L, 81-84
D5 @ Itawamba* L, 69-72
J9 @ Southwest Mississippi W, 93-66
J10 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast W, 63-53
J13 Northeast* W, 91-85
J16 @ Holmes* L, 70-92 J21
F3
Filling the shoes left behind by Marc Dukes was no easy task, but DON “BUBBA” SKELTON made it seem that way. During his first stint as the Rangers’ head coach, he led Northwest to five NJCAA Tournament appearances, including four straight.
^ Game played at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, Miss.)
# MACJC Tournament
% Region XXIII Tournament & NJCAA Tournament
N1 Copiah-Lincoln W, 93-81
N2 Hinds W, 104-72
N9 @ Southwest Tennessee L,
^
#
2005-06
29-4 / 12-0
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
North Division/Region 23 Champions
N2 Copiah-Lincoln
W, 92-59
N10 @ Hinds W, 91-53
N14 Mississippi Gulf Coast W, 97-90
N15 Southwest Mississippi W, 76-35
N17 Hinds W, 77-66
N21 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast
W, 95-76
N22 Pearl River ^ W, 100-90
N29 Shorter College
D1 @ Southwest Mississippi
W, 114-70
W, 80-64
D5 @ Copiah-Lincoln W, 74-69
J5 Kirkwood
W, 69-60
J6 Chipola College L, 78-97
J7 North Lake College
W, 72-71
J12 @ Itawamba* W, 79-68
J17 Holmes* W, 98-85
J19 @ Coahoma* W, 95-61
J23 East Mississippi* W, 104-61
J26 Northeast*
J30 @ Mississippi Delta*
F6 Itawamba*
F9 @ Holmes*
W, 99-61
W, 97-70
W, 93-85
W, 88-72
F13 Coahoma* W, 85-71
F16 @ East Mississippi* W, 94-61
F20 @ Northeast* W, 87-62
F23 Mississippi Delta* W, 85-63
F27 East Central #
W, 97-85 (OT)
M1 Itawamba # W, 70-68
M2 Holmes # L, 80-99
M7 East Central % W, 88-84
M8 Copiah-Lincoln % W, 68-66
M9 Pearl River % W, 77-73
M21 Iowa Western & L, 76-84
M23 Coffeyville & L, 64-77
*denotes North Division match
^ Game played at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, Miss.)
# MACJC Tournament
% Region XXIII Tournament & NJCAA Tournament
a
Skelton’s final season of his first stint saw Northwest earn a 29-4 overall record and finish as North Division and Region XXIII champions, while also earning one final NJCAA Tournament bid. Here, the Rangers are seen celebrating the region tournament title.
The 2003-04 Northwest team still holds the program’s highest finish, earning the No. 4 spot in the final NJCAA polls. The Rangers went 30-4 and started a streak of four straight appearances in the NJCAA Tournament.
The 2004-05 Northwest team provided Skelton with
final finish of No. 7 in the nation and provided Skelton with his final 30-win season.
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
JEFF CALDWELL
2006-07
15-6 / 8-4
Three seasons • 2006-09 37-41 overall (15-21 MACJC)
Prior to the start of the 2012 season, DON “BUBBA” SKELTON returned to Northwest for a second stint as the Rangers’ head coach. In his first season back, Skelton led the Rangers to the Region XXIII Tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
With an 86-68 victory against Mississippi Delta on January 14, 2016, Skelton (second from right) became the Rangers’ all-time winningest coach, earning his 252nd career victory and surpassing Northwest Sports Hall of Famer Kenneth “Cat” Robbins.
2017-18
22-4 / 11-1
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
North Division Champions/MACJC Runners-Up
N2 Faith Prep W, 106-73
N9 @ Tennessee Prep W, 94-62
N13 @ ASU Mid-South W, 75-72
N16 Faith Prep ^ W, 99-72
N17 Lawson State ^ W, 93-78
N28 @ Missouri State-West Plains L, 86-94
N30 Tennessee Prep W, 80-57
D1 @ Rhodes College JV W, 107-57
D4 East Mississippi* W, 78-67
J9 Arkansas Baptist W, 123-88
J11 #24 Northeast* W, 89-82 (2OT)
J18 Mississippi Delta* W, 101-85
J20 #20 Holmes* L, 60-84
J22 @ Coahoma* W, 99-75
J25 ASU Mid-South W, 98-86
J29 Itawamba* W, 74-67
F1 @ East Mississippi* W, 81-79
F5 Northeast* W, 93-85
F8 @ #25 Holmes* W, 69-64
F12 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 75-71
F15 Coahoma* W, 96-86
F22 @ Itawamba* W, 83-70
F26 Southwest Mississippi # W, 85-69
F28 Northeast # W, 83-80
M1 Pearl River # L, 77-83
M6 Southwest Mississippi % L, 68-70
*denotes North Division match
^ Tri-States Classic (Senatobia, Miss.)
# MACJC Tournament (Senatobia, Miss.)
% Region XXIII Tournament (Clinton, Miss.)
***Finished No. 12 in final NJCAA Division I rankings
2018-19 12-10 / 5-7
SHANE OAKLEY
Three seasons* • 2019-present 67-72 overall (35-42 MACJC/MACCC)
N1 Faith Prep W, 113-89
N6 @ SAU Tech
N8 @ Tennessee Prep
N12 #19 ASU Mid-South
N15 Tennessee Prep ^
N26 #16 MSU-West Plains L, 77-96
N27 SAU Tech W, 96-91
N29 @ Arkansas Baptist W, 89-78
D3 Itawamba* W, 78-75
J8 Arkansas Baptist W, 92-72
J10 @ Coahoma* W, 82-81
J14 #23 Northeast* L, 94-98
J17 @ East Mississippi* L, 89-102
J22 @ Mississippi Delta* L, 71-83
J24 Holmes* W, 73-66
J28 @ ASU Mid-South W, 77-65
J31 @ Itawamba* L, 82-90 (OT)
F4 Coahoma* W, 67-50
F7 @ #23 Northeast* L, 101-112
F11 East Mississippi* L, 67-74
F14 Mississippi Delta* L, 93-94
F18 @ Holmes* W, 83-81
*denotes North Division match ^ NWCC Tournament (Senatobia, Miss.)
2019-20
16-10 / 7-5
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
2020-21
8-8 / 7-7
N4 Faith Prep W, 95-48
N8 @ SAU Tech W, 85-75
N11 @ ASU Mid-South L, 71-80
N14 Southwest Mississippi W, 88-78
N18 Arkansas Baptist W, 74-64
N20 Faith Prep ^ W, 106-72
N21 Tennessee Prep ^ W, 90-56
D2 @ Southwest Mississippi L, 51-71
D4 SAU Tech W, 99-96
D9 @ Itawamba* W, 65-56
J6 Tennessee Prep W, 119-69
J9 Coahoma* L, 67-69
J14 @ #24 Northeast* L, 64-74
J16 East Mississippi* L, 62-68
J21 Mississippi Delta* W, 73-66
J23 @ Holmes* W, 62-56
J27 ASU Mid-South L, 72-77
J30 Itawamba* W, 71-65
F3 @ Coahoma* W, 72-60
F6 Northeast* L, 61-87
F10 @ East Mississippi* W, 71-66
F13 @ Mississippi Delta* L, 76-83
F17 Holmes* W, 81-75
F24 Hinds # L, 55-81
M3 #18 Northeast % W, 81-66
M5 Jones College % L, 69-79
*denotes North Division match
^ NWCC Tournament (Senatobia, Miss.)
# MACJC Tournament (Scooba, Miss.)
% Region XXIII Tournament (Clinton, Miss.)
J21 @ East Mississippi* L, 74-77
J25 Itawamba* W, 66-57
J28 @ Northeast* L, 54-64
F1 Coahoma* W, 69-67
F4 @ Holmes* L, 59-82
F8 Mississippi Delta* W, 83-55
F22 @ Itawamba* L, 65-70
F25 Northeast* L, 70-83
M1 @ Coahoma* W, 71-50
M4 Holmes* L, 84-90 (2OT)
M8 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 68-65
M10 East Mississippi* L, 55-66
M18 Coahoma* W, 83-68
M22 @ Itawamba* W, 61-58
A1 @ Jones College ^ W, 72-70
A6 @ #11 Pearl River ^ L, 56-68
*denotes North Division match ^ Region XXIII Tournament
Although he spent the 2018-19 season in an interim head coaching role, longtime assistant coach SHANE OAKLEY officially ushered in a new era of Northwest basketball when he was labeled as the full-time head coach before the start of the 2019-20 season.
2021-22
18-8 / 9-5
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
2022-23
5-18 / 3-11
N1 @ Coahoma W, 84-60
N4 @ East Mississippi W, 70-65
N8 SAU Tech W, 85-72
N11 Faith Prep W, 109-62
N15 @ Meridian L, 73-78
N18 Mississippi Delta W, 80-57
N29 ASU Mid-South W, 80-77
D2 East Mississippi* L, 64-70
D6 @ Holmes* W, 79-66
D9 @ SAU Tech W, 79-74
J6 #10 Jones College* W, 87-83
J10 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 88-69
J13 #24 Northeast* L, 68-79
J18 @ Pearl River* L, 55-74
J20 Coahoma* W, 73-66
J24 @ East Central* W, 69-55
J27 Hinds* L, 65-74
J31 @ Itawamba* W, 52-49
F7 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast* L, 87-99
F12 Meridian* W, 55-48
F14 Southwest Mississippi* W, 85-78
F15 @ ASU Mid-South W, 81-62
F17 @ Copiah-Lincoln* W, 99-92 (2OT)
F22 vs. East Mississippi ^ L, 55-69
F28 Southwest Mississippi # W, 82-67
M1 @ #16 Pearl River # L, 44-63
*denotes MACCC contest
^ MACCC Tournament (Poplarville, Miss.)
# NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament
N1 Piney Woods Post Grad W, 105-67
N4 vs. National Park College ^ L, 79-92
N5 ASU Mid-South ^ L, 86-98
N7 Meridian L, 55-71
N10 Coahoma L, 62-80
N14 East Mississippi L, 75-104
N17 @ Mississippi Delta W, 92-88
N28 ASU Mid-South L, 78-91
D1 @ SAU Tech L, 59-73
J5 @ East Mississippi* L, 75-93
J9 Holmes* W, 75-69
J12 @ Jones College* L, 64-82
J17 Mississippi Delta* W, 85-83
J19 @ Northeast* L, 73-109
J23 Pearl River* W, 73-71
J26 @ Coahoma* L, 71-77
J30 East Central* L, 80-91
F2 @ Hinds* L, 68-72
F6 #23 Itawamba* L, 66-70
F13 Mississippi Gulf Coast* L, 65-84
F18 vs. Meridian* # L, 70-83
F21 @ Southwest Mississippi* L, 93-103
F23 Copiah-Lincoln* L, 80-82
*denotes MACCC contest
^ ASU Mid-South Greyhound Classic (West Memphis, Ark.)
# Game played in Goodman, Miss.
2023-24
8-18 / 4-10
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY
N3 vs. National Park College ^ L, 88-92
N4 @ ASU Mid-South ^ L, 61-72
N6 Dyersburg State W, 95-83
N9 ASU Mid-South L, 61-75
N13 Holmes L, 68-93
N16 @ Coahoma L, 73-84
N27 @ East Mississippi L, 50-74
N30 Mississippi Delta W, 72-56
D8 vs. Motlow State # W, 77-63
D9 vs. State Fair # L, 78-88
J6 @ Dyersburg State W, 78-68
J11 Copiah-Lincoln L, 60-87
J22 @ Copiah-Lincoln* L, 70-103
J25 East Mississippi* L, 58-98
J29 @ Holmes* L, 64-79
F1 Jones College* L, 67-102
F3 Southwest Mississippi* W, 74-70
F5 @ Mississippi Delta* W, 85-69
F8 Northeast* L, 76-77
F12 @ Pearl River* W, 64-57
F15 Coahoma* W, 66-59
F20 @ East Central* L, 70-78
F22 Hinds* L, 51-56
F26 @ Itawamba* L, 85-93
F29 Meridian* L, 58-74
M4 @ Mississippi Gulf Coast* L, 77-93
*denotes MACCC contest
^ ASU Mid-South Greyhound Classic (West Memphis, Ark.)
# Harvey Childers Classic (Booneville, Miss.)
ATHLETIC STAFF
BRIAN LENTZ
SUPPORT STAFF
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
Brian Lentz enters his 10th year at Northwest and the sixth as the sports information director, directly overseeing the publication efforts for all 14 sports.
A lifelong Tate County resident, Lentz was appointed to his current role in November 2018, following a stint as the assistant sports information director that began in July 2015. He has contributed to several college athletic publications since 2015, earning awards from CoSIDA and CPRAM organizations.
Lentz joined Northwest in July 2015 after spending two and a half years as an undergraduate student assistant at Mississippi State University. He served as the women’s tennis contact for two seasons and also assisted at home football and baseball games in various roles.
Prior to MSU, Lentz spent two and a half years in the sports information department at Northwest as a student worker, assisting in various gameday roles. In addition to his work at NWCC, Lentz was the sports editor for The Ranger Rocket student newspaper for one year and a high school sportswriter for the Tate Record.
In addition to his current duties at Northwest, Lentz has also resumed work as the prep sportswriter for the Tate Record, providing coverage of all five local high schools and academies located within Tate County. He also served as the vice president for the 2YSIDA organization (Two-Year Sports Information Directors of America) from 2020-24.
Outside of Northwest, Lentz has volunteered at numerous preseason and postseason Southeastern Conference (SEC) events and also covered high school sports for both the Starkville Daily News and The Commercial Dispatch while at MSU. Within the last four years, he has worked several NCAA events, including the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the South Regional (Sweet 16/Elite Eight) of the 2017 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament and official stats for select ESPN/ SEC Network broadcasts.
Lentz is a native of Arkabutla and holds an Associate of Arts from Northwest (2012) and a B.S. in education from Mississippi State (2015), with a focus on kinesiology and sports studies. He is married to the former Amanda Cooper of Grenada, and the couple share a daughter, Ella Frances (6).
BRIAN OAKLEY
ASSISTANT SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
Brian Oakley enters his sixth year in the Northwest Sports Information department and was elevated to the full-time role of assistant sports information director on July 1, 2022.
Oakley formally joined the Northwest staff as a part-time sports information specialist in August 2019, but has had a hand in various gameday duties well before then. Since 2015, Oakley has assisted in gameday production, primarily operating the videoboard at Bobby Franklin Field and handling public address announcing at Northwest men’s and women’s basketball games.
Oakley received his Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University in 1998, with focuses on political science and communication studies. While at Vanderbilt, he served as a cadet in the ROTC program and as a marketing and promotions intern in the Commodores’ athletic department, where he was responsible for gameday promotional operations, scheduling of student-athletes for campus tours, off-campus promotion of athletic contests, design of various promotional materials and retail sales of university-related apparel.
At Vanderbilt, Oakley was selected to revamp a struggling KidsZone program and helped increase kids club membership from 10-15 to over 250 per home football game.
Oakley is a native of Senatobia and is the older brother of Ranger assistant football coach Scott Oakley and head men’s basketball coach Shane Oakley.
ED CARROLL
SUPPORT STAFF
ATHLETIC GAME OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Ed Carroll enters his 18th year at Northwest, and second year as the Athletic Game Operations Coordinator and “Voice of the Rangers”. Carroll previously served Northwest as the Director of Residence Life & Housing, assistant director, assistant football coach and recruiting coordinator.
Carroll came to Northwest and back to coaching in August of 2007 as an assistant football coach and recruiting coordinator ,after spending seven years in public relations and marketing with the American Express Company. The Rangers earned a trip to the MACJC Playoffs that year, but fell to Mississippi Gulf Coast in the first round. After one year, and a head coaching change, Carroll moved into administration as the Assistant Director of Campus Life and Housing, responsible for the adjudication of student conduct on all campuses.
In 2020, Carroll added the role of director to his responsibilities and all daily operations of housing and residence life for ten residence halls and 1,237 resident students on the Senatobia campus. During his tenure, Northwest opened up a 10th residence hall in 2021, the ultramodern Calhoun Hall.
In his role as Athletic Game Operations Coordinator, Carroll is also the college’s official public address announcer for Northwest’s intercollegiate athletic programs, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, softball and volleyball. In addition, Carroll supports the athletic director and daily operations in all aspects of providing a positive atmosphere for student-athlete academic success and eligibility.
Carroll spent over a decade in the 80’s and 90’s coaching high school and college football including a stop at Murray State University from 1991-1993, as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for coach Mike Mahoney and the Racers.
Carroll is a graduate of Simpson College (Iowa Conference), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. While at Simpson, he spent four years at cornerback as well as special teams for the Storm, becoming a starter his senior season.
Carroll is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and received his bachelor’s degree in biology at Simpson College in 1984. He received his bachelor’s in education from Northwestern State in 1996. Carroll also attended the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (Iowa) for medical studies from 1984 until 1986.
CHARLESY KENNEDY
ATHLETIC ACADEMIC ADVISOR
During the 2023-24 academic year, Kennedy helped Northwest produce 146 student-athletes to the President’s and Vice President’s list for the Fall 2023 semester and 117 to the respective lists for the Spring 2024 semester. Additionally, 175 student-athletes finished with 3.0 GPAs or better in Fall 2023, while 142 achieved the same milestone for the most recent spring semester.
A native of Calhoun City, Kennedy arrived to Northwest from the Water Valley School District, where she previously served as an eighth grade teacher and the school’s head softball coach since 2021. Prior to her stint in Water Valley, Kennedy taught at Calhoun City High School, her alma mater, from 2019-21 and served as an assistant softball coach for the Lady Wildcats.
Prior to Calhoun City, Kennedy was the assistant coach at Vardaman High School in Calhoun County from 2016-19. She also played one season of college softball at Holmes Community College in 2015.
Kennedy is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where she attained a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2018. She later earned her master’s of athletic leadership from Rider University in 2022.
Charlesy Kennedy enters her second season as the athletic academic advisor for Northwest Mississippi Community College.
JUSTIN WARE
SUPPORT STAFF
DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE
Justin Ware, LAT, ATC, is entering his third year as the Director of Sports Medicine for Northwest Mississippi Community College.
A native of Greenville, Ware is employed by Athletico Physical Therapy and previously served as the Head Athletic Trainer for Oxford High School and Ole Miss club sports for seven years. At Oxford, Ware provided sports medicine coverage for all athletics in grades 7-12, while handling Ole Miss club soccer, lacrosse, rugby, hockey and basketball.
Ware attended Mississippi Delta Community College and played baseball for the Trojans, before moving on to Delta State University. While at DSU, he served as a student athletic trainer for football, baseball, softball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s soccer.
After leaving Delta State with a Bachelor of Science in athletic training in 2014, Ware formally joined the Athletico staff and began his aforementioned stint at Oxford High School.
In his spare time, Ware volunteers his time to provide coverage for the Mississippi Special Olympic games. He is a member of the Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and has held a CPR/AED certification since 2011.
Ware is married to the former Lindsey Dunn of Dyersburg, Tenn. and the couple welcomed their first child in December 2022.
TAYLOR YOUNG
ATHLETIC TRAINER
Taylor Young enters his third year as an athletic trainer for Athletico Physical Therapy and Northwest Mississippi Community College.
A native of Greenwood, Young arrived at Athletico and Northwest after spending seven years as an athletic trainer at Mississippi Delta Community College. After serving as an assistant trainer during his first two years in Moorhead, Young was promoted to the head athletic trainer role and remained in that role for five years, serving football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, softball and baseball.
Young graduated from Pillow Academy in 2009 and played baseball at MDCC, where he was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. He was also named Mr. MDCC in 2011.
After departing MDCC with his associate’s degree, Young moved on to Delta State, where he finished with his bachelor’s degree in athletic training in 2014 and later earned his master’s degree in Sport and Human Performance in 2016, with an emphasis in Sports Management.
While working on his undergrad, Young also interned with the University of Memphis, where he covered football and track and field. He is currently a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association.
