CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Concordia-St. Paul men's basketball team (0-2) fell to the Rogers State Hillcats 77-73 Saturday afternoon in the Holiday Inn Express Regional Challenge on Friday afternoon.

The Golden Bears struggled to find a rhythm in the first half, shooting 32% from the field and 27.3% from behind the arc. The CSP men settled down in the second half improving their shooting percentage to 46.7% and 35.7% from three. The Hillcats controlled the action down low, outscoring the Golden Bears in the paint 36-24, aided their advantage in rebounds, pulling down 35 boards compared to Concordia's 23.

Antwan Kimmons led the Golden Bears in scoring, putting up a career high 30 points, shooting 9-16 from the field, and 11-17 from the foul line. The Northern Iowa transfer also grabbed five rebounds, two assists, and a steal to go along with the scoring output. Marcus Skeete followed up his 24 point performance last night with 14 against RSU. Skeete went 4-8 on 3-point attempts and matched Kimmons with five rebounds and two assists. 

Center Joey Saracco and guard Sherwyn Devonish-Prince Jr. led the way for Rogers State. Saracco finished with 24 points, five rebounds, and two blocks with Devonish-Prince Jr. dishing out six assists on his way to scoring 17. 

Rogers State started out hot on an 11-3 before it was ended by an Emad Elniel 3-pointer. RSU held the Golden Bears to 28 points in the first half, but the Concordia defense kept it close and closed out the first half down by eight. The Hillcats maintained an advantage through the first 10 minutes of the second half, pushing their lead to 14 points, 57-43 with 10 minutes left in the second. Over the next seven and a half minutes, the Golden Bears would make a valiant comeback, outscoring the Hillcats 24-12, and tying it at 67 after a Marcus Skeete 3-pointer. The CSP momentum was short-lived as two quick layups by Rogers State at the one minute mark would put them ahead for good.
  
The Golden Bears will look to get back in the win column next week at home against Bemidji State on Tuesday, November 15 at 7 p.m.