CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State men's basketball team dropped its Sooner Athletic Conference opener against John Brown 68-62 on Tuesday night at the Claremore Expo.

RSU led for most of the game, but the Golden Eagles rallied in the final three minutes using a 7-0 run to take a 63-57 lead with under two minutes to play. The Cats cut the lead to one point with 40 second remaining, using a shot from long distance by senior Deveric Taylor and two made free throws by Matt Kellogg. But RSU ran out of time and JBU sealed the game with made free throws.

Once again senior Matt Kellogg played a big role for the Hillcats, leading the team in scoring with 20 points. John Boyd poured in 17 points and led the team on the boards, pulling in eight. Taylor rounded out the double digit scorers with 13 points.

The Cats took a 38-26 lead into the locker room at intermission. They led by as many as 15 in the first half. Boyd led the team in scoring at the break, posting 11 points.

The Hillcats shot 80-percent from the charity stripe, 40-percent from the field and 34-percent from behind the arc. RSU held the Golden Eagles to shooting just 22-percent from long distance. They shot 45-percent from the field and 66-percent from the free throw line.

JBU out rebounded the Hillcats 40-29. Adrian Miller and Andy Garcia each contributed a double- double. Garcia scored 13 points and pulled in 12 boards while Miller added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hillcats (4-3) will break for Thanksgiving and return to action on Monday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. as they face Oklahoma Wesleyan at the Expo. RSU looks to avenge an early season loss, 92-78, to the Eagles on Oct. 29. The game will be broadcasted live on RSU Radio 91.3FM and on rsuhillcats.com.