HAYS, Kan. - The No. 23 Rogers State Men's Basketball team defeated Fort Hays State University 74-68 at Gross Memorial Coliseum Thursday evening.
 
With the victory the Hillcats moved into second in the MIAA Standings with two games remaining in the regular season.
 
How it Happened: Early in the game, the two teams would battle back and forth for the lead, with the Tigers eventually taking control midway through the half.
 
The Tigers would build a lead as large as six points with seven minutes left in the first half, but the Hillcats would battle back to tie the game at 29 with about four minutes remaining.
 
The hosts would take the lead once more in the quarter, but a 10-5 run from the Hillcats in the final three minutes of the half would give the Navy and Red a three-point lead going into the break with a score of 39-36.
 
The Tigers would come out fighting in the second half going on a 16-5 run early to take the lead back from the Hillcats.
 
However, the Hillcats would respond quickly and retake the lead. The Tigers would keep the game close, as they would come within one point of tying the game again, but the Hillcats would fight off the upset bid.
 
Fort Hays would make one last run for the lead in the final minute of the game, but the Hillcats would hold strong and sink late free throws to win the game 74-68.
 
Key Players: Marques Sumner would lead the team in scoring with 23 points. Sumner would also put up three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Sumner's long jump shot in the final minute would seal the victory at 70-64.
 
Gabriel Ferreira would score 12 points along with three rebounds and blocked shot.
 
Tavian Davis would put up 11 points with an assist and a steal.
 
Brewster Peacock would be the final Hillcat in double digits for scoring with 10 points. Peacock would also have three rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot.
 
Key Statistics: The Hillcats would shoot 47 percent from the three-point line in the game while the Tigers only shot seven percent, making only one three-pointer in the entire game.
 
The Hillcats would also out shoot the Tigers from the free-throw line making 88 percent of their shots from the line while the Tigers only made 77 percent.
 
Notes: The win moves the Hillcats into second in the MIAA Standings with just two games remaining before the MIAA men's basketball tournament. The Hillcats hold the tiebreaker over Missouri Southern with a win earlier this season. Both the Hillcats and Lions have a 12-4 record in conference play.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats remain on the road and travel to Nebraska-Kearney in the second of three straight MIAA road games to close the regular season. Rogers State will tip off with the Lopers at 4 p.m. at the Health & Sports Center, looking to avenge a loss at home in January.