WICHITA, Kan. - The Rogers State men's basketball team extended its winning streak to four-games with a 77-64 win over Heartland Conference foe Newman University on Thursday night at the Fugate Gymnasium.

The score was tied four times in the first stanza before the Hillcats gained the momentum with a 12-0 run capped by an offensive rebound and a bucket by Damion Hooks with 10 minutes to play in the half. With three minutes to play in the frame, the Jets battled back and cut the deficit to two points with a trey by Ryan McCarthy. With just under a minute remaining they cut the lead to one point but Deran Banton answered with a bucked and J. C. Hartzler registered a steal with only seconds remaining to give RSU a 37-34 lead at intermission.

The Hillcats took over in the second frame, never trailing. The Jets cut the Hillcat lead to two points with 11 minutes to play, thanks to a 3-pointer by Trae Beck. RSU had an answer with a 15-5 run that gave the Cats a 12-point advantage with 5:39 to play. The Hillcats led by double digits the rest of the way, pushing the lead to as many as 17 points.        

Hartzler, the Heartland Conference Player of the Week, tallied a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Damion Hooks led all scorers with 17 points while Robinson Odoch Opong registered 14 points and Cory Ayala poured in 13 points.

Landers Riddle led the Jets in scoring with 12 points and Marquis Cuyler tallied a team-high 12 rebounds while adding nine points.

Rogers State (10-4, 5-1) returns to the hardwood on Saturday as the Hillcats travel to Oklahoma Panhandle State at 3:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.