CLAREMORE, Okla. — Rogers State men's basketball (5-4, 1-2 MIAA) edged Central Oklahoma (7-5, 1-2 MIAA) 72-67 at the Claremore Expo Center on Thursday night.

RSU scored 11 points off turnovers and secured the win despite a narrow five-point margin. The Hillcats built a significant 17-point halftime lead but faced a strong second-half rally from the Bronchos, which closed the gap with 44 points after the break.

Rogers State opened the first half by establishing an early rhythm with a series of successful plays in the paint and from beyond the arc. Benard Omooria's back-to-back three-pointers helped build an initial lead as the team capitalized on turnovers and fast breaks. The Cats' demonstrated strong defensive efforts with seven steals, which contributed to a steady increase in their lead.

As the half progressed, RSU maintained control with effective ball movement, resulting in 11 assists and efficient scoring inside the paint, totaling 18 points. The team closed the half with a commanding lead, holding Central Okla. to 23 points while scoring 40 themselves, setting a strong foundation for the game ahead.

The Bronchos made a push early in the second half, narrowing the lead with a series of field goals. RSU responded with a critical three-pointer from Omooria at 16:19, maintaining their advantage. Despite the Bronchos' efforts, including a run of points in the paint, the Hillcats held their ground effectively.

The Hillcats capitalized on key defensive stops and fast breaks, with Andrew Mason contributing crucial free throws at the 38-second mark to extend the lead. Jabryn Anderson also added to the scoring with late free throws, and Tim Jordan Jr.'s layup at 4:36 helped keep the margin. The half concluded with RSU securing a 72-67 victory, maintaining their edge despite a late three-pointer from the Bronchos' Matthew Willenborg.

Omooria scored 17 points, hitting five 3-pointers on 6-for-8 shooting. Jordan matched with 17 points, converting all three of his 3-point attempts and adding two steals. Anderson contributed nine points and led with seven rebounds, while also recording five assists and three steals. Mason added 10 points and posted three blocks in the game.

Willenborg led the Bronchos with 24 points, shooting 8-for-19 from the field and 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. He also contributed significantly on defense with six blocks and four steals, while pulling down 13 rebounds. Jack Robinson added 11 points, making 5 of his 10 field goal attempts and dishing out seven assists. Josh Nwankwo scored 12 points and recorded three steals, adding five rebounds to his stat line. Marcus Zeigler, Jr. chipped in with 11 points, converting all four of his free throw attempts and contributing three assists.

The Hillcats will be back in action at the Claremore Expo Center against Haskell on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.