CLAREMORE, Okla. – Senior ETHAN GILBERT scored a season-high 20 points, but three late free throws by Rogers State Thursday night dealt St. Edward's a 77-75 loss at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Hilltoppers (12-7, 4-2 Heartland) fell into a four-way tie for first place in the Heartland Conference. Rogers State (11-6, 4-3 Heartland) sits a half-game back in a tie for fifth place.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rogers State started the game off hot, hitting its first five shots from the field. The Hillcat lead soared to double digits.
• Sophomore LANDON GOESLING came off the bench and scored seven points as St. Edward's cut the Hillcat lead to 38-31 at the break.
• The Hilltoppers came out in the second half making its first four shots to take a 42-40 lead with 17:30 left in the game.
• Trailing 74-73, St. Edward's got a layup from senior RAMIR BURTON to take the lead with 28 seconds remaining.
• Rogers State hit two free throws with nine seconds remaining and the Hilltoppers missed the front end of a 1-and-1.

 
HILLTOPPER NOTES

• Gilbert was 7-of-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
• Sophomore Burton, senior JOHN GRAMLICH, and sophomore JAMES TAYLOR all scored 12 points.
• Rogers State takes a 3-2 lead in the all-time series and have now won two straight games.

 
QUOTE BOARD: HEAD COACH ANDRE COOK
"I am proud of our guys and the way they came back. They gave themselves a chance to win at the end. Rogers State is a good team and this is a tough place to play. There are no easy nights in this league and we have to move forward and get ready for Fort Smith on Saturday."
 
UP NEXT
St. Edward's is back in action Saturday when it travels to face UA Fort Smith at 3:00 p.m. inside the Stubblefield Center. Live video and stats will be available at www.GoHilltoppers.com.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Rogers State 77, St. Edward's 75
Records: St. Edward's (12-6, 4-1 Heartland), Rogers State (11-6, 4-3 Heartland)
Leading Scorers: St. Edward's-Gilbert (20), TAMU-International-Smith (26)
Attendance: 1,111
 
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Team                           Conference       Overall
St. Edward's                        4-2                         12-7
TAMU-International             4-2                         10-6
Dallas Baptist                      4-2                         9-6
Newman                               4-2                         6-9
Rogers State                       4-3                         11-6
UA Fort Smith                      4-3                         10-8
Lubbock Christian                3-3                         9-7
St. Mary's                             3-3                         5-10
Oklahoma Christian            1-5                         6-8
Panhandle State                  0-6                         5-10

For the latest updates on the St. Edward's men's basketball team, follow us on Twitter at @SEUMBasketball.