JOPLIN, Mo. – Rogers State men's basketball lost to No. 21 Missouri Southern 88-82 Saturday afternoon in MIAA play at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
The Hillcats led in the second half, but couldn't fight off a late charge from the Lions despite four Hillcats in double figures.
How It Happened: A game that featured 11 lead changes and 12 score ties started back and forth as the teams traded runs through a majority of the first half.
Rogers State took the lead with six minutes left in the first half and held onto the advantage for the remainder of the half, but could only extend the lead to as much as six points before Missouri Southern cut the deficit to 45-42 at the break.
Early in the second half, the Lions continued to tie the game, but Rogers State would answer the majority of the scoring possessions from the Lions and hold a narrow advantage through the first eight minutes.
However, the Lions went on a 10-2 run to take a 70-65 lead midway through the second half. The Hillcats tied the game at 72 and again at 74, but were unable to lead again.
A 10-3 run from Missouri Southern saw the Lions go up 84-77 with 1:20 remaining.
Jett Sternberger and
Darraja Parnell made baskets to cut the deficit to 84-82, but Missouri Southern san four free throws late to seal the victory.
Key Statistic: Missouri Southern outrebounded Rogers State 40-23 in the game, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points. Rogers State had just five second-chance points.
Players of Note: Sternberger led the Hillcats in scoring with a season high 21 points. Sternberger was 6-for-11 from three-point range and was also 3-for-3 at the free throw line. He also had three rebounds.
Parnell had 17 points for the Hillcats on 7-for-13 shooting. Parnell also added four rebounds to lead RSU and had three assists and a steal.
Devin Pullum led the Hillcats with five assists to go along with 15 points.
Brewster Peacock was 5-for-7 from the field, including a trio of three pointers to finish with 14 points.
Notes: The Hillcats 13 three pointers and 31 three-point attempts are both season highs.
After defeating the Lions in the first meeting last season, the Hillcats have dropped the last two meeting in the series, falling to 1-2 against Missouri Southern.
The Hillcats fall to 0-2 this season against ranked teams. The Hillcats lost by eight points to No. 1 Northwest Missouri two weeks ago.
Sternberger's six three pointers is the most for any Hillcat since Sternberger had a career high seven in the regular-season finale last season at Emporia State.
Saturday's loss is the first time the Hillcats didn't have a blocked shot since December 1, 2018 at Emporia State.
Up Next: The Hillcats return to the Claremore Expo Center for the final scheduled home game of the semester, as Rogers State welcomes in Washburn on Saturday. Tip off with the Ichabods is set for 3:30 p.m. Thursday's Emporia State game is currently postponed due to COVID-19 protocols for Emporia State.
