CLAREMORE. Okla. – The Rogers State men's basketball team fell to a second half rally on Thursday night, dropping an MIAA showdown with Missouri Southern 96-87 at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Hillcats led 43-40 at the break, but foul trouble and a run from the Lions late in the second half were too much for the Hillcats to overcome.
 
How It Happened: Devin Pullum gave the Hillcats an early lead with a three pointer on the first shot of the game, but Missouri Southern matched with an opening three of their own and the teams would go on to trade the lead three times in the opening four minutes before the visitors jumped out to a 10-point lead with a 13-2 run.
 
Over the next four minutes, the Hillcats rallied and took a 27-25 lead with 7:16 remaining, using their own 16-4 run.
 
The teams would trade the lead four more times before the Hillcats went in front with 3:39 remaining in the half and carried the lead into the break at 43-40.
 
Missouri Southern took the lead 4:25 into the second half and held a small lead into the middle of the half when back-to-back three pointers from Cole Kinnamon put RSU ahead 61-59 with 11:58 remaining.
 
The lead trade hands twice more before Missouri Southern went in front for good with 8:33 remaining, capitalizing on a pair of starters for Rogers State in foul trouble.
 
Missouri Southern would then put together a couple mini 8-2 runs to open up a three-possession game in the final minutes.
 
Devin Pullum would cut the deficit to as low as five with 1:19 remaining, but the Hillcats were unable to get any closer.
 
Key Statistics: Missouri Southern shot 46 percent from three-point range with 13 three pointers, while the Hillcats had just five three pointers, shooting 22 percent from behind the arc.
 
The Lions also had 40 rebounds to 29 for the Hillcats, including 13 offensive rebounds that Missouri Southern turned into 19 second-chance points. Rogers State had just nine second-chance points on eight offensive rebounds.
 
Players of Note: Devin Pullum led the Hillcats, who had five finish in double figure, with 23 points. Pullum also had four assists and two steals.
 
Jett Sternberger and Darraja Parnell each had 14 points on the night. Parnell added five rebounds, four assists and two steals before fouling out. Sternberger had one rebound and one steal.
 
Cole Kinnamon finished with 12 points. He finished with two of the five three pointers for the Hillcats. He also had two rebounds and an assist.
 
Brewster Peacock wrapped up the Hillcats in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Peacock is now 15 points from 1,000 for his career. Peacock added a pair of three pointers in the game and is now five triples away from fourth on the all-time list at RSU. He currently has 163 for his career.
 
Notables: The Hillcats allowed a season high 56 second half points in the game. The previous high allowed was 48 against No. 1 Northwest Missouri.
 
The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Hillcats at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Hillcats matched a season high in points with 87, tying an 87-point outing at Pittsburg State in December. However, the 96 points given up was also a season high.
 
Rogers State had a season low four turnovers in the game.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats wrap up the week with Rogers State's Homecoming Game on Saturday against Pittsburg State. Rogers State won an overtime game on the road at Pittsburg State, 87-80, earlier this season. The Hillcats and Gorillas will tip off at 3:30 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center.