HOUSTON, Texas - The Rogers State men's basketball team fell to the University of Houston 85-48 in its final exhibition of the season at Hofheinz Pavilion.
The Hillcats couldn't find a rhythm from long distance, going 0- for-14 from 3-point range. The Cougars used a 7-0 run to increase their lead to twenty points early in the second half and never looked back.
John Boyd led the Hillcats with 12 points. Deveric Taylor was the only other RSU player to reach double figures with 10 points. The Hillcats shot 37-percent from the field and 53-percent from the charity stripe.
The Cougars opened the game with an 8-0 run. Larry Cox put the Hillcats on the board at the 15:18 mark with a layup. In his debut, Cox scored four points while adding two steals. RSU hit back-to-back buckets to cut the Cougars lead to four with fewer than five minutes to play in the half. UH rallied with an 11-2 run in the final minutes to take a 38-24 lead into intermission.
Maurice McNeil led the charge for the Cougars with 25 points and 13 rebounds. UH shot 50-percent from long distance and the field.
Rogers State (5-6, 1-3) will return to Sooner Athletic Conference action on Jan. 1 at Oklahoma City University. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on RSU Radio 91.3 and on rsuhillcats.com.
