SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Rogers State men's basketball (5-1) closed out their season opening, six-game road trip as they held off a furious second half comeback from Drury to secure the 77-69 win on Saturday.
 
"This was a very gutsy, tough, conference-like road win for our team tonight," said Head Coach Justin Barkley. "I was extremely proud to see certain guys step up. I felt like this was Andrew Mason's best game in a Hillcat uniform, and it's something we can build on. Caden and Kofi were once again really solid on the interior. Now, we're just looking forward to getting back home and finally playing our first game at the Expo on Wednesday night!"
 
Four Hillcats finished in double figures in the win. Andrew Mason led RSU with a season-high 20 points to go with five rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block. Both Kofi Hamilton and Benard Omooria put up 17 points apiece, with Hamilton adding four rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal while Omooria added three rebounds and two steals. Caden Fry notched his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds with two assists and a steal.
 
RSU wasted little time as they dashed out to a 9-2 run to start the game. However, the Panthers responded and were able to tie things at 13-13 with just over 14 minutes left in the half, thanks to an 11-4 run of their own. The Hillcats answered back forcefully as they tore off a 10-0 run to take their largest lead of the period at 23-13 two minutes later. Drury kept fighting and got the deficit down to a single possession, but RSU was able to push the lead back out to 37-28 heading into the break.
 
The Hillcats took their largest lead of the game at 39-28 as Mason opened the second half with a jumper just 23 seconds into the period. From there the Panthers went to work trimming the deficit down and eventually took their first lead of the game at 48-47 midway through the half. Things grew tight for the next several minutes as both teams traded buckets back and forth. RSU managed to come out on top as they retook the lead 56-53 with under seven minutes remaining and eventually pushed back out to a 69-61 lead with a minute and a half left. They were able to salt the game away down the stretch with made free throws and claimed the 77-69 win.
 
The Hillcats will finally return home on Wednesday, Nov. 20 as they face off against Haskell in the home opener on Cherokee Nation Night at the Claremore Expo Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.