WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Rogers State men's basketball team fell for the first time in 2021 as the Hillcats dropped an MIAA battle at Central Missouri 77-64.
 
The Hillcats (6-6, 6-6 MIAA) had won its first four games to begin the new year but fell behind midway through the first half to the Mules (5-8, 5-8 MIAA) and were never able to regain the lead despite a rally midway through the second half.
 
How It Happened: Central Missouri took an early lead but baskets from Joey Saracco and Devin Pullum saw the Hillcats go in front at 9-8 four minutes into the game.
 
The Hillcats then extended the lead to 13-8 after another basket from Pullum and free throws from Desitn Eke to make it 13-8, the largest lead of the game for Rogers State.
 
The Mules rallied with a 15-3 run through the middle portion of the first half to take a 7-point lead at 23-16 with five minutes to go in the half.
 
The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, with the hosts going into the break with a 31-26 lead.
 
After a 6-2 run from Central Missouri to begin the second half, the Hillcats rallied with a 10-2 run to get to within one possession as Darraja Parnell hit a three pointer to cut the Central Missouri lead to 39-38.
 
A few minutes later, Jett Sternberger hit a three pointer to tie the game at 42 with 13:30 remaining, but it would be as close as the Hillcats could get to regaining the lead as the Mules immediately responded with five points in the next minute.
 
The game remained close until the final six minutes. With the Hillcats trailing 55-51, Central Missouri went on a 16-5 run to go up by 15 with just over two minutes remaining.
 
Key Statistic: The Hillcats turned the ball over 17 times in the game to just six from Central Missouri. The Mules converted Hillcat turnovers into 27 points while Rogers State had just seven points off turnovers.
 
Players of Note: Parnell record his second double-double of the season as he finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Parnell was 5-for-9 from the field and also had three assists.
 
Pullum led the Hillcats in scoring, finishing with 14 points. The senior was 5-for-12 from the field with a trio of three pointers. He also had three rebounds.
 
Sternberger and Saracco each finished with nine points and four rebounds. Saracco added a pair of steals and an assist, while Sternberger had two assists.
 
Notables: The Hillcats fell to 0-3 in the second game of road trips. The Hillcats are 3-0 in the first road game of the week this season.
 
The 13-point loss for the Hillcats on Saturday is the largest loss in regulation of the season. Rogers State also lost by 13 in the season opener, but that game went to overtime.
 
Rogers State has had a player record a double-double in three of the last four games. Parnell has recorded a double-double in two of the last three.
 
The Hillcats had no fast break points after entering the game averaging 10.8 per game this season. It is the second time this season the Hillcats had no fast break points.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats will look to return to their winning ways as they return to the friendly confines of the Claremore Expo Center on Thursday for the first of two games at home as Rogers State looks to avenge a 6-point loss at Missouri Southern early in the season. The Hillcats and Lions will tip off at 7:30 p.m.