AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Rogers State men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking, 64-61, loss to No. 17 St. Edwards in the final minute of the game Saturday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center.  
 
A nail biter from start to finish, neither team led by double figures and the score was knotted 14 times throughout the game with 11 lead changes.
 
Frederico Santos gave RSU a two point advantage with 55 seconds remaining in the contest. After scoring the bucket, Santos grabbed the rebound at the other end of the court and St. Edwards was forced to foul. Donald Moore converted a pair of free throws to push the lead to four but the game wasn't finished. John Gramlich buried a three pointer for the Hilltoppers to cut the RSU lead to one with 16 seconds remaining. A flagrant foul was called on DesJuan Newton during a loose ball tussle off the inbound, giving St. Edwards two free throws and the ball with 13 seconds to play. Frankie Mgbolu made both free throws for the Hilltoppers to lead by one. The Hillcats were forced to foul; Mgbolu went back to the line converting a pair to give St. Edwards a three point lead with 7.4 seconds to play. The Hillcat couldn't get the final shot to fall, suffering their second straight loss. The Hilltoppers continue their winning streak, registering their 12th-straight victory.
 
Johnathon Buckley was a needed spark off the bench in the second stanza. On three occasions in the second half he made shots to keep the game close. Twice he hit three pointers to knot the game and converted a free throw to tie the score.
 
RSU got the scoring started in the contest with a trey from J.C. Hartzler. RSU pushed its lead to 6-o before the Hilltoppers warmed up and used a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to 8-6. The score was tied four times before RSU stretched its lead to four points with a DesJuan Newton tip in with four minutes to play in the half.  With 1:28 to play Ethan Gilbert gave St. Edwards a two point lead with a three pointer but consecutive buckets to end the half gave RSU the two point advantage at intermission as the Hillcats led 32-30.
 
The Hillcats were led in scoring by Hartzler with 12 points while Santos added 10 points to round out the double digit scorers. Ramir Burton led the Hilltoppers with 12 points.
 
Rogers State (7-5, 1-3) returns to action at home as the Hillcats host Texas A&M International at the Claremore Expo Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The game can be viewed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and live audio is available on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.