CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball's (8-2, 1-0 MIAA) 54-point second half lifted them past Missouri Southern (4-5, 0-1 MIAA) in the 92-73 win to open MIAA play on Wednesday.
 
Three Hillcats finished in double figures in the win. Caden Fry led all scorers with a double-double of a career-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Marshall Jr. dropped 15 points with a team-high six assists and was a perfect 4-4 from deep. Kofi Hamilton contributed 13 points with four rebounds.
 
Both teams got off to a bit of a sluggish start and stayed close with nine lead changes and two ties in the first 10 minutes. The Hillcats used a 10-3 run to push out to a 29-23 lead with just over five minutes left in the half, but Southern retied the game at 30 all with 2:24 left. However, with things tied at 34, the Lions committed a personal foul and were called for a technical foul back-to-back as time expired which set RSU up to make four free throws and carry a 38-34 lead into the locker room.
 
The Hillcats came out of the break on fire as they ripped off a 14-7 run to open the second half and take their first double-digit lead of the night at 52-41. Beginning at the 11:30 mark, RSU went on an incredible 13-0 run that changed the tide in the game and put them up 69-49. From then on, the Hillcats put the clamps on defensively and smothered Southern's offense for the remainder of the game. RSU pushed their advantage out to 20 points multiple times down the stretch and eventually claimed the 92-73 win.
 
Their 92 points is the most the Hillcats have scored against MSSU since the initial meeting between the two sides on Feb. 1, 2020, when RSU won 105-93 in Joplin, Mo.
 
The Hillcats will look to keep the momentum going as they return to the Expo Center on Saturday, December 7 for a meeting with Pittsburg State. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.