EDMOND, Okla. - The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma put an end to Rogers State's remarkable inaugural season of men's basketball by bouncing the Hillcats from the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament semifinals, 61-55 Saturday in Edmond.
 

RSU converted just two field goals in the final six and a half minutes of the game. The Drovers capitalized on the Cats shooting woes and took control in the final minutes to earn a spot in the conference championship and an automatic berth in the NAIA National Tournament.
 

Roderick Rodgers tied the game at 48-48 with 6:07 remaining on two free throws. It was the eleventh and final tie of the game. USAO reeled off a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to put the Cats in a hole they couldn't claw out of. After a steal by Rodgers, James Coats cut the lead to 58-55 on a layup with 35 seconds left. However, it turned out to be the final bucket of the season for RSU.
 

Tim Nelson calmly hit two free throws for the Drovers and the Hillcats missed their final two scoring attempts of the game to seal their fate. Nelson finished with a game-high 16 points and hit 9-of-9 free throw attempts. Rodgers, the Hillcats emotional and physical leader throughout the tournament, matched Nelson's 16 points and led RSU with eight rebounds.
 

The teams battled through six ties and three lead changes in the first half alone. Rodgers slashed to the hoop to give RSU a 27-22 lead with 45 seconds to play in the first half. Thomas Woods buried an 18-footer for the Drovers to cut the lead to three just before halftime.
 

Both teams came out firing in the second half as they exchanged the lead five times over the first four minutes. Eric Young gave the Hillcats their final lead of the game on a three from the wing with 16:40 to play. USAO answered with seven straight points, capped by an Eli Flores bucket in the paint. RSU drew even with the Drovers four more times but never regained the lead.
 

The Hillcats shot just 37-percent from the field and made just 4-of-17 3-point attempts. Senior Bryson Krueger suffered a knee injury four minutes into the game and never returned to the floor. It was a heartbreaking finish to a brilliant season for RSU's lone senior. In the absence of their leading scorer the Cats struggled mightily against USAO's zone defense.
 

RSU hoisted 16 more shots than its opponent but the Drovers made the most of their opportunities. USAO shot 51-percent from the floor and converted 18-of-27 free throw attempts. Thomas Woods added 15 points to Nelson's totals while Eli Flores finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Eric Young and Sylvester Spicer joined Rodgers in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 

Rogers State (20-11) completed its inaugural season of NAIA basketball by making a strong showing in the SAC tournament and reaching the 20-win threshold. The Hillcats finished one win shy of a national tournament berth and will return all but one player for the 2008-09 season. Coach Wren Baker's squad boasted two six-game winning streaks and notched three victories over Top 25 teams on the year.