CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball (10-7, 7-4 MIAA) notched their fourth-straight win with a 70-64 victory over Central Missouri (9-7, 4-6 MIAA) on Saturday.
 
Four Hillcats finished in double figures in the win. Kofi Hamilton finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double with team highs of 18 points and eight rebounds along with three blocks, two steals and an assist. Both Rodney Battle and Isaac Johnson put up 14 points apiece with Battle adding three rebounds and an assist while Johnson added five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Evan Anderson contributed 13 points with a rebound, an assist and a steal.
 
The Hillcats controlled the game early on as they opened on a 10-4 run in the first six minutes. The Mules rallied back with a 6-0 run of their own tie things at 10-10 and briefly took the lead at 13-12. With the score tied at 16-16, RSU began to put together a 10-0 run to take their largest lead of the half at 26-16 with just under seven minutes left in the period. UCM fought back and closed out the half on a 10-4 run to trim the deficit down to a single possession at 31-28 headed into the break.
 
Things remained tightly contested in the second half as the Mules were able to get within two points before the Hillcats ran back out to a 37-31 lead to start the period. UCM refused to let RSU get too far away over the next several minutes and eventually were able to tie things at 42-42 midway through the half. The Hillcats managed to hold the Mules at bay for most of the remainder of the game, but one final 7-2 run put UCM within two points again at 64-62 with 51 seconds left. However, RSU put the game on ice as Evan Anderson drove the floor on the ensuing possession to score the hoop and harm and put the Hillcats back up 67-62. They salted the game away in the final 20 seconds with Rodney Battle making three free throws to seal the 70-64 victory.
 
RSU will look to carry their winning ways on the road as they travel to Pittsburg, Kan. on Wednesday, Jan. 24 to take on Pittsburg State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.