WICHITA, Kan. – The Rogers State men's basketball team saw its four-game win streak snapped on the road at Newman, 81-72, Saturday afternoon at the Fugate Gymnasium.
 
The Hillcats drop to a half-game behind Heartland Conference leader St. Mary's with the loss despite Frederico Santos' 14th double-double of the season on a career-high 21 points and he matched his single-game record with 17 rebounds. RSU lost for the first time in two weeks shooting just seven percent (1-14) from behind the arc compared to 37 percent (10-27) for the Jets, including eight makes in the second half.
 
Newman scored the opening six points before RSU tied the game behind a steal and dunk from Deran Banton followed by a Donald Moore layup. Santos added a free throw and Moore converted under the basket again jumping ahead, 9-6.
 
Five-straight points from J.C. Hartzler pushed the Hillcat advantage to 16-10 but the Jets scored the next seven as the teams traded leads. A three-pointer by Jeremy Espinoza gave Newman a 29-22 advantage as it took a 34-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
In the second half, Espinoza scored the first 10 points for the Jets as their margin swelled to nine, 44-35. RSU cut the deficit to three on back-to-back buckets in the paint from Hartzler and Santos before DesJuan Newton added two free throws as the Cats continued to keep the game within reach with 13:50 to play in regulation.
 
Each time the Hillcats looked ready to even the game, Newman answered knocking down shots from long range as the conference's second-leading scorer, Reggie Baker, hit all three of his triples in the second half. Ryan McCarthy added another trey for the Jets for a 64-54 lead but Newton responded with an old-fashioned, three-point play.
 
Santos scored on back-to-back possessions for RSU closing the gap to five, 66-61, dominating the paint grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring inside as the Hillcats continued to fight back. Newton hit a pair of free throws for more second-chance points getting within three. That would be the closest RSU would get as Newman closed the game 81-72 for its second upset of the week.
 
Santos registered 14 of his 21 points and 14 rebounds in the final stanza while Newton was the only other Hillcat to reach double-digit scoring with 13 points, all coming in the final 20 minutes.
 
Espinoza finished the day with a career-best 28 points while Baker and James Pegues scored 16 and 12 points, respectively, as all five Newman starters reached double-figures.
 
RSU (18-8, 12-6 HC) puts the finishing touches on the 2014-15 season with its final two games at the Claremore Expo Center. The Hillcats host UA Fort Smith Feb. 28 for Senior Day slated for a 3 p.m. tip. Catch the action live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on the air at RSU Radio 91.3FM.