PITTSBURG, Kan. — Rogers State men's basketball (4-4, 0-2 MIAA) fell to Pittsburg State (7-3, 2-0 MIAA) 86-64 on Saturday at John Lance Arena.
RSU managed a balanced scoring effort with 10 three-pointers but struggled with turnovers, committing 23 in total. The Gorillas capitalized on those errors with 29 points off turnovers and maintained control in the paint, outscoring the Hillcats 30-18 in that area.
Caden Fry's 3-pointer at 16:28 narrowed the Gorillas' early lead, and subsequent baskets, including a layup by
Damondre McKnight at 1:56, further cut the deficit. Jordan Jr. capped the half with a last-second layup, reducing the gap to seven points.
RSU converted on key opportunities throughout the first half, particularly capitalizing on second-chance points with eight points from offensive rebounds. Despite turning the ball over nine times, the Cats' maintained close proximity to the Gorillas, closing the half trailing 38-31.
RSU showed resilience early in the second half, as
Andrew Mason's layup initiated a scoring drive.
Benard Omooria capitalized on a technical foul, hitting two free throws to keep the game within reach. The Hillcats managed to tie the score at 43 with a three-pointer from
Tim Jordan Jr. at 16:11, maintaining momentum.
Despite the effort, turnovers began to impact RSU as the Gorillas took advantage of the miscues, gradually building a lead. A critical three-pointer from McKnight brought the score to 57-54, briefly reclaiming the advantage. However, the Gorillas responded with strong defensive plays and efficient scoring, ending the half with a substantial lead at 86-64.
Fry contributed a team-high 14 points, converting all four of his free throw attempts. Omooria added 11 points, knocking down three 3-pointers. Jordan Jr. added eight points and collected seven rebounds, anchoring the team's efforts on the boards. Mason scored nine points and added five rebounds, including one block.
Landon Short led the Gorillas with 25 points, connecting on 6 of 13 from beyond the arc, and added five assists and four steals. Alijah Curry contributed 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting, along with four assists and three rebounds. Connor Rogers added 11 points, hitting 2 of 4 from three-point range, and recorded two steals. Hayden Shanks made an impact with seven points and three steals, while Mason English facilitated the offense with five assists and collected eight rebounds.
Rogers State men's basketball will return to play on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Claremore Expo Center.
