CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball (7-2) took care of business in their 91-64 win over University of the Ozarks (5-1) on Saturday.
 
"This was a good win for our team," said Head Coach Justin Barkley. "I'm so proud of Kofi. In 15 years, I haven't come across many guys like Kofi Hamilton. He came here as a really good athlete and is now a really good basketball player to complement his athleticism, and he is an even better teammate and person. Guys like him make coaching enjoyable. There is also something special about this team as a whole. This team has a unique bond and they are very together. Going back to my playing days, it's amazing what you can accomplish when you have a group of guys who don't care who gets the credit for success. I've enjoyed coaching these guys so far this season; they make my job easy."
 
Three Hillcats finished in double figures in the win. Hamilton led all scorers with 19 points to go with four rebounds, two steals and an assist. Jabryn Anderson added 15 points with a team-high five rebounds along with two assists and a steal. Aydan Perdue contributed 12 points, two rebounds and a steal.
 
Things started tight as both sides traded buckets in the early goings of the first half. However, the Hillcats began to pull away with a 15-4 run to go up 31-18 midway through the period. They never looked back as they pushed out to their largest lead of the period at 54-28 and carried a 54-30 advantage heading into the break. This was the most points RSU has scored in the first half this season, surpassing their previous total of 50 points against St. Edward's on Nov. 3.
 
In the second half, the Eagles tried their best to hold the deficit in check, which did they for most of the period. However, the Hillcats took their largest lead of the game at 74-45 with 9:30 left. RSU eventually took the 91-64 victory.
 
The Hillcats will be back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 4 as they open MIAA play hosting rival Missouri Southern inside the Expo Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.