CLAREMORE, Okla. – Frederico Santos set a school record with 17 rebounds and the Rogers State men's basketball team used a strong second half to win its fourth-consecutive game, an 86-71 decision over Newman Saturday afternoon at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
Santos recorded his seventh double-double of the season and fourth straight shooting 5-of-6 from the floor for 14 points and the Hillcats tallied their second-best free throw performance in school history knocking down 24-of-26 (92.3 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
The Jets opened the game with a quick burst leading 13-4 as the Hillcats struggled from the floor shooting just 1-of-11 but RSU got back into the game behind a scoring punch from the bench in DesJuan Newton. The senior scored the first nine points for the Cats helping close the gap. J.C. Hartzler capped a 15-4 run with a three pointer giving RSU its first lead of the game, 19-17.
 
Donald Moore hit a triple with 1:29 remaining in the opening stanza and Newton added a pair of free throws for 16 points in the frame as RSU closed the half with the final five points taking a four-point edge into the break, 35-31.
 
After seven lead changes in the first half, the Hillcats scored on their first five possessions of the second half stretching the lead to double figures, 45-33. RSU continued to expand its advantage leading by as many as 17 and never relinquished the double-figure margin claiming the 15-point win, 86-71.
 
Newton led the Hillcats with a career-best 22 points and Hartzler joined him with another 20-plus performance netting 21. Moore added 19 points while Santos (14) and Jeylyn Sharpe (10) also reached double digits.
 
Newman's Reggie Baker led all scorers with 24 points while three other players hit double figures as the Jets got all 71 points from their five starters.
 
Rogers State (12-6, 6-4 HC) puts its streak on the line returning to the hardwood Jan. 29 looking to even the season series with St. Edward's coming to the Claremore Expo Center for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The game can be found live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.