Dec. 5—The Missouri Southern men could not overcome a 24-point performance by Hillcat Caden Fry and fell 92-73 to Rogers State in their MIAA opener on Wednesday at the Claremore, Oklahoma, Expo Center.
The teams were neck-and-neck through much of the first half. Fry managed to give the Hillcats a 29-23 lead at 5:02 with a transition score, but MSSU’s Tyrique Brooks buried an Alley-Oop off a Martin Macenis assist, hit a jumper and added a free throw at 3:38 to bring the Lions within a point at 28-29.
The margin stayed within one or two points the remainder of the opening period, until Rogers State drilled four free throws to end the half with a 38-34 lead.
The Hillcats extended their lead to nine points early in the second half off a three-pointer and a layup from Andrew Mason that made it a 43-34 game at the 18:27 mark.
Southern pulled within six at 49-55 with 11:57 left when Macenis scored on a layin, but the Hillcats went on a 13-point run to build their lead to 68-49 with 8:15 remaining. Rogers State held its biggest lead at 71-51 when Anthony Marshall buried a three-pointer at the 7:31 mark.
The Lions clawed back to within 14 at 63-79, when Jayden Taylor hit a three-pointer with 4:41 left. RSU built the lead back to 20 with a Kofi Hamilton jumper at 3:07 that gave the Hillcats an 87-67 lead.
Back-to-back threes by MSSU’s Jamari Lawrence brought the Lions back to within 14 at 87-73 with 1:51 left, but that is as close as Southern could come as it was outscored 5-0 down the stretch.
Tyriqe Jackson led the Lions with 19 points and seven rebounds; Macenis chipped in with 14 points and seven boards and Brooks added 13 points.
Along with his game-high 24 points, Fry added 10 rebounds for the Hillcats.
The Lions travel to Edmond, Oklahoma, Sunday to face Central Oklahoma before returning home Dec. 17 for a match against Northeastern State.
