CLAREMORE, Okla. –  Rogers State men's basketball (22-9, 13-6 MIAA) handled Arkansas-Fort Smith (12-16, 6-13 MIAA) in a 79-73 win in the regular season finale on Senior Day Saturday.
 
"We have a smart team, and really good basketball players," said Head Coach Justin Barkley. "I am so proud of our team, we had an incredible regular season. So much great to say about this season and finishing third in this league is a tremendous accomplishment."
 
Anthony Marshall Jr. led the Hillcats in scoring with 19 points. He also recorded six assists, seven rebounds and a steal. Andrew Mason and Sam Davidson each scored 17 points. Davidson also led the team in rebounds with eight. Both players also tallied a steal. Caden Fry scored 14 points and snagged five rebounds. Benard Omooria also collected a steal and three rebounds. Jabyrn Anderson notched five rebounds, two blocks and a steal. 
 
In the first half, RSU and UAFS traded buckets with the game was deadlocked at 15 a piece midway through the first half. The Hillcats began to hit shots, and put together a 16-2 run with plays like Davidson and Fry hitting contested layups in a span of five minutes, making the score 31-17. The Lions responded and scored 12 points to close the first half. RSU matched the offensive intensity and carried a 40-29 lead into the locker room.
 
UAFS kept scrapping to open the second half, but RSU maintained a double-digit lead at 51-41 with 12:13 to play. The Hillcats were able to elevate their advantage to 15 points when Davidson scored a 3-pointer and layup on back-to-back possessions, midway through the second half, up 58-43. 
 
With three minutes left, UAFS went on a 9-0 run, hitting three 3-pointers in the span of a minute to cut the deficit to 71-67 with 2:18 to play. RSU responded quickly with a 5-0 mini run, including a massive slam dunk by Mason.  
 
RSU was able to make free throws down the stretch, but the Lions kept hitting shots and got within one possession at 76-73 with 1:14 left. However, thanks to free throws made by Marshall Jr. and Davidson, the Hillcats held on to capture the 79-73 victory. 
 
With the win, RSU earned the No. 3 seed in the MIAA Tournament and will take on No. 6 seed Missouri Western in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 7 inside historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. Tipoff is set for 2:15 p.m.