CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball (6-6, 3-3 MIAA) couldn't complete the comeback in a 90-83 game against Missouri Western (10-3, 4-3 MIAA) on Thursday.
 
Five Hillcats finished in double figures in the game. Isaac Johnson led the way with 21 points and a team-high five rebounds as well as three assists and a steal. Kofi Hamilton added 17 points, four rebounds and an assist. Rodney Battle posted 16 points with two rebounds, four assists and a steal. Anthony Marshall Jr. scored 11 points with three rebounds and a team-high five assists. Caden Fry contributed 10 points with a rebound and a steal.
 
The first half was a back-and-forth affair for most of the period with nine lead changes and two ties. For the first 10-plus minutes neither team could grab more than a four-point lead for any stretch of time. However, with just under three minutes left in the half the Griffons began to pull away as they were able to go on an 11-2 run to close out the period and take a 40-29 lead into the break.
 
The first five minutes of the second half seemed to be more of the same as the two sides traded baskets. Western began to separate themselves even farther though with a 12-2 run to claim their largest margin of the game at 60-37 with 12:30 left. From there, the Hillcats went to work slowly whittling the lead down. They strung together a 14-4 run to get the deficit back to 13 points 66-53 with 8:28 left. A 15-6 run by RSU got the lead back under double digits at 74-82. While they were able to get within six points down the stretch, fouls and made free throws didn't allow them any closer as MWSU held on for the 90-83 win.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6 as they play host to No. 19 Northwest Missouri. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.