GOODWELL, Okla. – The Rogers State University men's basketball team saw its four-game win streak end in a 89-78 loss at Oklahoma Panhandle State University Saturday at Oscar Williams Field House.

The Aggies rallied from a double-digit, first-half deficit to pick up their first win of the season after entering the game 0-12 in the first meeting between the Heartland Conference foes.

RSU broke an 8-8 tie with a 14-4 scoring run to take its largest lead of the opening half 22-12 after Deran Banton converted inside the paint with less than 13 minutes remaining. Banton later gave the Hillcats a 30-20 advantage taking a Cory Ayala feed to the rim but the Aggies stormed back to take a 37-34 lead on back-to-back three pointers holding a 41-39 edge at intermission.

OPSU continued to hold a slim lead in the second half using a 5-0 run forcing an RSU timeout with 16:58 to play and promptly knocked down a three out of the break to jump in front 51-41. The Hillcats got back within six 59-53 when J.C. Hartzler converted a three-point play but the Aggies matched every RSU basket and continued to increase the margin to 17 at 75-58.

The Hillcats made things interesting in the final two minutes cutting the deficit to six on a three by Ayala with 55 seconds to play. OPSU shut down the rally holding on for the 89-78 victory. Zilijan Jones led four Aggies in double figures with 25 points hitting 5-of-6 from behind the arc as RSU allowed a season-high 12 three pointers with a lackluster defensive effort.

Hartzler paced the Cats with 24 points and seven rebounds while Robinson Odoch Opong (14), Banton (12), and Jeylyn Sharpe (10) also hit double-figure scoring.