BILLINGS, Mont. – Rogers State men's basketball (2-0) used a hot shooting second half to take down host Montana State Billings (1-1) with an 82-70 win in their second game at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic on Saturday.
 
Five Hillcats finished in double figures. The trio of Kofi Hamilton, Anthony Marshall Jr. and Jabryn Anderson led RSU scoring 14 points apiece. Hamilton finished two rebounds shy of a double-double with two blocks, two steals and an assist, while Marshall Jr. finished two assists shy of a double-double with four rebounds and Anderson added four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Caden Fry also almost had a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds to go with two assists. Benard Omooria contributed 13 points with two assists, two steals and a rebound.
 
The Hillcats got off to a sluggish start as the Yellow Jackets opened the game on a 16-2 run in the first four minutes. However, they quickly found their footing as they used a 13-3 run of their own to cut the deficit to 19-17 just over midway through the period. Things stayed relatively close for the next few minutes with the two sides trading buckets. MSUB was able to push back out to a 32-25 lead with under six minutes left in the half. Fortunately, RSU was able to close out the half on a 7-2 run to head into the locker room only trailing by one point at 41-40.
 
In the second half, the Hillcats came out of the break on fire as they opened the period and took their first lead thanks to a 17-5 run in the first four minutes. The Yellow Jackets went to work cutting into the deficit and eventually got back within one point at 66-65 with five minutes left. However, RSU took the game over and dashed out to their largest lead of the night at 81-67 with 35 seconds left and eventually claimed the 82-70 victory.
 
RSU will look to continue their winning ways as they close out the tournament tomorrow facing off against an old Heartland Conference foe in St. Edward's. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.