KANSAS CITY, Mo. – No. 3-seed Rogers State men's basketball (23-10, 13-6 MIAA) saw their run in the MIAA Tournament come to an end against No. 2-seed Fort Hays State (21-9, 12-7 MIAA) in a 61-43 semifinal game on Saturday.
 
"While today was not our best day, I am incredibly proud of this group for winning 23 games and finishing with the second-best record in the league," said head coach Justin Barkley. "Hats off to Fort Hays State, they were ready to get after it from the tip, and they made life very difficult for us on the offensive end and they are well coached. However, I'm not going to let today's result fog up my thoughts on all we have accomplished since Nov. 1. We have covered as much ground in one season in my 15 years coaching as maybe any team I've had."
 
Anthony Marshall Jr. led the Hillcats with 11 points and added five rebounds and an assist. Caden Fry finished two rebounds shy of a double-double with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds with a block. Jabryn Anderson contributed nine points with seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Andrew Mason also posted three blocks and two steals.
 
After some close moments to start the game with four lead changes in the first five minutes, the Tigers began to distance themselves with a 10-0 run to go up 15-6 with 13:26 left in the half. RSU kept battling and was able to get back within a single possession at 22-19 with just under seven minutes remaining. Unfortunately, FHSU caught fire and closed out the period on a 10-1 run to carry a 32-20 advantage into the break.
 
The Tigers kept the hot streak alive as they started the second half on a 6-0 run to jump out to a 38-20 lead four and a half minutes in. The Hillcats never stopped fighting but ultimately could not make much progress in shrinking the deficit, only getting as close as 13 points at 38-25 with 12:12 left. FHSU eventually claimed the 61-43 win.
 
RSU finishes the season with the second-best record in the MIAA and the most wins as a program since the 2019-20 season. They will now wait to see if they have done enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.