CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball (15-10, 12-7 MIAA) knocked off Central Oklahoma (18-9, 10-9 MIAA) in a 102-99 double overtime thriller for the ages on Thursday. The Hillcats have now won three of their last four games at the buzzer or in overtime.
 
Four Hillcats finished in double figures in the win. Anthony Marshall Jr. led the way with a career-high 27 points off the bench with five assists, four rebounds and a steal. Both Kofi Hamilton and Evan Anderson put up 19 points apiece. Hamilton finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight boards, two blocks, two steals and an assist while Anderson finished with four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Rodney Battle contributed 17 points with a rebound, an assist and a steal.
 
RSU started hot as they opened the game on a 9-2 run in the first four minutes. However, the Bronchos quickly found their footing as they responded with a 6-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to one point at 9-8. From there, things stayed tight for the remainder of the half with neither able to get more than a four-point lead over next the 12 minutes. Over that span there were three lead changes and six ties. UCO used a 6-1 run to take the largest lead of the period at 43-38 with two minutes left, but only managed to hold on to a 44-41 margin going into the break.
 
The second half remained close with two lead changes and two ties in the first 10 minutes of the period. With things knotted up at 55-55, the Bronchos put together an 8-2 run to take the largest lead of the game at 63-57 with nine minutes left. The Hillcats kept chipping away at the lead and eventually made five-straight free throws to go back up 75-74. Down 80-79 with 15 seconds left, UCO made one of two free throws to send the game into overtime.
 
In the first overtime, both sides traded blows with each one seemingly matching each other on each successive trip up and down the floor. After an extra five minutes, both sides remained deadlocked at 93-93.
 
The second overtime appeared to be more of the same with no end in sight. However, a Nathan Clover III dunk followed by a critical steal from Marshall Jr. set up the Hillcats to retake lead. Battle layed up the go ahead bucket off the turnover to put RSU back in front 99-97. Over the final two minutes, the Hillcats turned the screws on the Bronchos defensively and were able to go 3-for-3 at the free throw line down the stretch to seal the 102-99 victory.
 
RSU will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 24 as they take on Newman in the regular season home finale on Senior Day. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.