CLAREMORE, Okla. — The Rogers State University men's basketball team pulled away in the second half for an 82-70 victory over Pittsburg State University Thursday (Jan. 19) at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Gorillas (5-13, 2-10 MIAA) led by five, 36-31, 20 seconds into the second half, but the Hillcats (10-8, 6-6 MIAA) used a 17-3 run to push in front, 48-39, five minutes later.
 
Pitt State scratched its way back within three points of RSU, 60-57, on a three-point play by R.J. Forney Jr. with 6:44 remaining in the contest. The Gorillas still trailed by three, 63-60, but the Hillcats utilized an 11-3 run to take control of the contest and pull away for the 12-point win.
 
Forney led all scorers with a career high 18 points on the strength of 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. Deshaun English II also finished with his seventh double-double of the season, posting 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Quentin Hardrict Jr. also chipped in with nine points and seven assists in the contest.
 
RSU got 17 points from Joey Saracco, 13 points from Isaac Johnson and 10 points apiece from Sherwyn Devonish-Prince Jr. and Ugo Obineke
 
The Gorillas will close out their Oklahoma road swing Saturday (Jan. 21) by traveling to Tahlequah to face MIAA rival Northeastern State University at 3:30 p.m. (CST) at Dobbins Field House.