JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – After an incredible second half comeback and a Sam Davidson buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the game to overtime, Rogers State men's basketball (9-7, 5-5 MIAA) couldn't hang on in the extra five minutes as Lincoln (9-4, 5-4 MIAA) took a 76-74 win on Thursday.
Four Hillcats posted double figures in the game with Chris Whitaker leading the way with 16 points, five steals, two rebounds, two assists and a block. Isaac Johnson added 14 points, shooting 4-for-6 from downtown. Sherwyn Devonish-Prince Jr. put up 13 points with two steals and a rebound. Joey Saracco contributed 12 points with six rebounds, two assists and a block.
Lincoln got off to a hot start as they jumped out to a 7-2 lead to open the game, but RSU quickly answered with two quick jumpers to cut the lead to 7-6. The Blue Tigers would hold the edge for most of the half however, going up 18-8 with 7:46 left in the half. They eventually built out to their largest lead of the game at 35-19 and carried a 38-23 margin into the break.
The second half was a completely different story as the Hillcats looked like a different team coming out of the locker room. They immediately went to work trimming the deficit and managed to get it down to single digits at 45-36 six minutes in. A 12-4 run brought the margin to 51-48 with seven minutes left. RSU finally broke through and took their first lead of the game at 56-55 thanks to an 8-2 run. Up 61-58 with 30 seconds left, the Hillcats saw their lead evaporate thanks to a jump shot and four made free throws to give Lincoln a 64-61 advantage with eight seconds on the clock. On the ensuing possession after a missed three and an offensive rebound, Sam Davidson fired a shot from beyond the arc as the buzzer sounded that would send the game into overtime knotted at 64-64.
In the overtime period, despite their best efforts, foul trouble doomed the Hillcats as the Blue Tigers shot 7-for-10 from the charity stripe to come away with the 76-74 win.
RSU will look to bounce back as they travel to Warrensburg, Mo. on Saturday, Jan. 14 to face off against Central Missouri. Tip off is set for 3 p.m.
