CLAREMORE, Okla. – A fast start for the Rogers State men's basketball team wasn't enough in an 84-79 loss to No. 17-ranked UA Fort Smith on Wednesday (Jan. 24) at the Claremore Expo Center. The Hillcats knotted the score late, but the Lions sank back-to-back 3-pointers to pull away for the win.  
 
The Hillcats (14-6, 5-3) build an early 13-3 lead in the opening minutes, but the Lions responded and then hit shots late to pull away for the 84-79 league victory.
 
Tavian Davis tied the score at 71-71 with 5:10 remaining in the game after the Cats trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half. UAFS's Ladaruis Coleman propelled the Lions to a six-point edge with two consecutive 3-pointers for a 77-71 lead with 4:02 on the clock.
 
With less one minute remaining, Chase Littlejohn banked in a corner 3 right in front of the RSU bench for a 79-76 score with 54 seconds left to give the Cats some chance late.
 
The Lions responded with a driving layup by Chris Crawford to shut the door on the Cats. Crawford was fouled on the shot and hit the free throw for the three-point play and an 82-76 score with 24 seconds remaining.
 
After two UAFS free throws, Baron Smith Jr. sank a 3-pointer with one second left for the 84-79 final score.
 
The Hillcats (14-6, 5-3) started the game on fire, building a 13-3 advantage in the first four minutes of the contest. The Cats started 5-of-7 shooting from the field to pull out to the 10-point advantage. Saint Hilaire opened the game with a basketball and then the navy and red knocked down three straight triples from three different players for an 11-3 score. Smith made it 13-3 with a jumper at the 16:37 mark for the Cats' largest lead of the game.
 
Trailing 25-16 midway through the first half, UAFS went on a 10-0 run to gain a 26-25 edge on the Hillcats. Marcus Wallace made two free throws to give the Lions their first lead of the contest.
 
UAFS held a 48-42 lead at halftime. Early in the second half, the Lions pushed the advantage to their largest of the game at 61-50 after a Kyree Elder 3-pointer with 15:05 remaining. The Hillcats chipped away at the deficit until tying the score at 71-71 late.
 
Hilaire totaled a career-high 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field in 39 minutes. Smith added 23 points, and Davis finished with 11 points. Also in double figures was Brewster Peacock with 10 points off the bench. The Cats shot 44.4 percent (28-63) from the floor in the game.
 
Four Lions posted double figure scoring with Wallace totaling a team-high 18 points. UAFS tallied a 45.5 percent (25-55) night from the field and made 25-of-28 free throws for 89.3 percent.
 
The Hillcats go on the road at Dallas Baptist University next Wednesday (Jan. 31) at the Burg Center in Dallas, Texas. Radio coverage will be available on 91.3 FM and on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.