ADA, Okla. – Five players scored in double figures leading the Rogers State men's basketball team to an 84-70 victory at East Central Tuesday night at Kerr Activities Center.
 
Tied at the half, the Hillcats used a 14-2 run out of the break to take control of the game and outscored the Tigers 54-40 in the second half, picking up their first road victory of the season and third-straight win overall.
 
After the Tigers opened the game with the first eight points, the Hillcats cut the deficit to 10-9 on Donald Moore's jumper, taking a quick pass from DesJuan Newton. J.C. Hartzler scored on back-to-back possessions giving RSU its first lead of the night, 13-12, with 11:53 remaining in the first half.
 
The teams battled back and forth until Hartzler drove and converted a layup at just before the halftime buzzer sounded to deadlock the score, 30-30. The junior led the Hillcats with 13 points off the bench at intermission hitting 5-of-7 from the floor.
 
RSU took control of the game early in the second half using a 14-2 run to break open a 44-32 advantage using a balanced attack offensively. Five different players scored for the Hillcats during the run stretching nearly five minutes.
 
Frederico Santos connected on a pair of free throws pushing the RSU lead to double digits, 51-41, and put the game out of reach with a 17-0 run, holding East Central scoreless on its home court for just under five minutes going in front 70-47. The Hillcats did not relinquish the double figure lead, cruising to the 84-70 win.
 
Hartzler and Santos tallied a team-high 17 points while Santos completed the double-double with 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Deran Banton added 14 points while Newton and Donald Moore joined in double figures scoring 13 and 11, respectively.
 
The Hillcats dominated the glass holding a 42-24 rebounding advantage while outscoring the Tigers 30-15 at the free throw line.
 
Rogers State (3-2 overall) returns home for a pair of games starting Saturday welcoming Northwestern Oklahoma State to the Claremore Expo Center for a 3 p.m. tip. The game can be viewed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.