UTPB men's basketball led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but saw its lead slip away as Rogers State outscored the Falcons 39-33 after halftime in an 82-77 defeat Thursday night in Claremore, Okla. 

Malcolm Hill-Bey and Codye Hatcher came up big in an opening 20 minutes that saw the Falcons on top by ten points two different times. Hill-Bey led UTPB with 12 points and Hatcher added 10 points and six rebounds.

Hill-Bey scored five points in the final two minutes and change as the Falcons held on to a one-point lead going into halftime ahead 44-43.

Rogers State rode free throws in the second half, connecting on 16 made free throws at the line to just seven total attempts in the second half by UTPB.

Hatcher ended the night with a double-double, his second of the season, scoring a game-high 24 points with 10 rebounds on 12-16 shooting. Hill-Bey added 12 points with a pair of 3-pointers, while Johnnie Lacy and Gary Akbar each scored 10 points.

Jeylyn Sharpe led four Hillcats in double figures with 20 points on the night.

The Falcons are back on the road later this weekend, traveling to UA Fort Smith for a Saturday afternoon contest at 3 p.m. in Fort Smith, Ark.