CLAREMORE, Okla. — Senior
Caden Fry broke the program rebound record, as Rogers State men's basketball (11-6, 5-3 MIAA) defeated Missouri Southern (9-8, 3-5 MIAA) 68-55 on Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center. Fry's second board of the night propelled him past Brewster Peacock's record of 523.
"It's a super exciting achievement," Fry commented. "I'm glad I've been here for four years, and I'm glad that I have something to say that I did something great here." Fry added, "Coach Barkley, he's like a father figure in my life. I've been with him for four years. He'll love you, and he'll coach you hard. He's developed me into a man, most importantly, prepared me for what the real world's going to be like."
RSU turned the game around with a strong second-half performance, outscoring the Lions 38-21 after trailing by four at halftime. The Hillcats capitalized on turnovers, scoring 18 points off 14 Lions turnovers, while securing 34 total rebounds to maintain control in the second half.
Rogers State opened the first half with a strong offensive display, highlighted by
Tim Jordan Jr.'s layup and subsequent 3-pointer, assisted by
Jabryn Anderson, which helped establish an early 7–4 lead. The team maintained momentum with Anderson's three-pointer at 13:47, extending the lead to 12–6. However, the Lions responded with a series of successful plays, including Colin Ruffin's layup and 3-pointer, shifting the advantage.
Despite the Hillcats' efforts, including a notable assist from
Caden Fry leading to
Damondre McKnight's 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining, the Lions managed to hold a narrow lead. The half concluded with the Cats' trailing 34–30, setting the stage for a competitive continuation.
RSU opened the second half by narrowing the margin with
Tim Jordan Jr.'s free throws at 19:14, making it 34–32. Anderson's defensive efforts helped shift momentum, and
Stephon Thomas capitalized on a fast-break layup, giving the Hillcats a 39–38 lead at 14:11. A series of scoring opportunities, including a layup by Fry and a 3-pointer by
Benard Omooria, extended the advantage to 50–42 by 8:14.
RSU continued to press the advantage with efficient shooting and key defensive plays. Anderson and Thomas contributed crucial points, bolstering the lead to 66–53. Fry capped the half with a fast-break dunk assisted by Omooria, closing out the game with RSU ahead 68–55.
Anderson finished with 16 points and collected 12 rebounds for his third double-double, adding five assists to his performance. Fry contributed 14 points and dished out four assists while securing five rebounds. Jordan Jr. scored 13 points, converting all four free throw attempts, and added three rebounds. Thomas posted 10 points, recorded two blocks, and grabbed seven rebounds.
Gavyn Elkamil led the offensive effort for the Lions with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while shooting 6-for-14 from the field. Jaden Taylor contributed 13 points, converting all three of his free throws and adding three rebounds. Tyrone Wright provided a strong defensive presence, securing nine rebounds and recording two blocks. Ruffin added nine points and excelled defensively with four steals and five rebounds. Brayden Williams, although scoring only one point, made an impact with two steals.
RSU will hit the road on Thursday for a rematch of the MIAA Tournament Semifinals against Fort Hays State. Tip-off from Hays, Kansas, is slated for 7:30 p.m.
