A 16-point lead in the first half couldn’t keep the men’s basketball team on top of the competition on Thursday as Rogers State University took the win 84-74.
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dan Hays said Rogers State is “a little better team than we are but I’m very pleased with how well we played.”
Oklahoma Christian University led the majority of the game with 53 percent shooting accuracy and four players contributing double-digit scores.
Jordan Rutherford was the frontrunning scorer for the team with 21 points, followed by John Moon’s double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Daniel Eibel and Elijah Strickland each recorded 11 points with a combined four rebounds and three assists.
The Eagles jumped ahead early in the game, leading 47-31 at halftime. The Hillcats came back to the court with newfound energy and scored 53 points to the Eagles’ 27 in the second half. Rogers State held its new lead to the end of the game and took the 84-74 victory.
Hays said RSU’s bench game contributed to the team’s struggle during the second half.
“Our depth kind of hurts us – because we don’t have as much depth – and they threw a lot of players at us,” Hays said. “I don’t think we got tired; we just really couldn’t stop them, but they couldn’t stop us either.”
Hays said the team is playing the “very best basketball of the year, no question” as it enters the final three games of the season.
The Eagles will compete against the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Statistics provided by the Oklahoma Christian University Sports Information office.
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