CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball (4-4, 3-2 MIAA) handled their business at home with an 80-72 win over rival Northeastern State (4-5, 0-4 MIAA) on Wednesday.
 
Five Hillcats finished in double figures on the night. Rodney Battle led all scorers with 21 points to go with a rebound and a steal. Isaac Johnson put up 15 points with four rebounds and a steal. Anthony Marshall Jr. added 14 points with three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Evan Anderson posted 13 points with five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Caden Fry finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds as well as a team-high four assists and two steals.
 
The first half was tight from the tip as the two sides traded buckets early on with four lead changes and three ties in the first 13 minutes. Things went back and forth for most of the period with neither side able to get more than a single possession lead. NSU finally came out on top as they were able to string together a 6-1 run with just under three minutes left in the half to go up 34-28. However, RSU responded and closed out the period on an 8-2 run of their own to send the game to the break knotted at 36-36.
 
The Hillcats found their stride in the second half as they opened the period on a 15-2 run, that included four shots from deep, to take their largest lead of the game at 51-38. The RiverHawks answered back with a 9-0 run of their own to cut the deficit back down to 51-47. Once again though, RSU was able to push the margin back out to 12 points at 61-49. NSU stayed within striking distance for of the remainder of the game thanks mainly to made free throws. A quick 5-0 run with under a minute left got the deficit down to 76-72, but that would be as close as it would get as Evan Anderson salted the game away with four-straight made free throws of his own to secure the 80-72 victory.
 
RSU will be back in action on Monday, Dec. 18 as they travel to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete in the High Desert Classic against Simon Fraser. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.