CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State men's basketball team clawed its way to victory on Monday night as the Hillcats came away with a 90-86 victory over Mid-America Christian at the Claremore Expo.
Neither team held a double digit lead in the contest and the score was knotted eight times throughout the night. However, with less than eight minutes to play in the game, RSU took the lead with a deep two-point bucket from the corner by Robinson Odoch Opong and four-straight made free throws by Damion Hooks. RSU clung to the lead the rest of the way. RSU pushed the advantage to five points with a put back by Deran Banton with five and a half minutes to play. MACU cut the lead to one point with 2:44 to play but RSU answered with a 7-0 run. Semar Farris tallied a trio of 3-pointers in the final 22 seconds, the last cut RSU's lead to two points with six seconds remaining but Brandon Brantley sealed the game with a pair of made free throws.
Hooks led the Hillcats in scoring and rebounding with 29 points and seven rebounds. Deran Banton followed with 21 points, Opong tallied 16 points and J.C. Hartzler round out the Hillcats in double digit scoring with 14 points ,two blocks and three steals.
In the first frame, RSU built the largest lead of the half with 10 minutes to play as Hooks converted a layup to give the Hillcats an eight point advantage. MACU answered with a 9-0 run and held the lead the rest of the half, taking a four-point advantage into the locker room at the break.
MACU continued to hold onto the momentum after intermission, building an eight point lead. RSU battled back with an 11-4 run that tied the score for the seventh time in the contest and shifted the momentum towards the Hillcats.
Farris and Angelo Lewis led the Evangels with 20 points apiece while Jarius Wilson rounded out the double digit scorers with 18 points. MACU won the battle on the boards, 30-24.
Rogers State (4-2) will return to action at the Claremore Expo on Tuesday as the Hillcats face Ecclesia College at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live with live audio on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.
