LAREDO, Texas – The Rogers State men's basketball team overcame a halftime deficit with a dominant second half winning 76-59 at Texas A&M International Saturday afternoon in Heartland Conference play.
 
The Hillcats used a 22-1 run covering nearly half the second frame, rallying for their seventh win in the last eight games to remain in contention for the conference regular season championship one game behind leaders St. Mary's and Lubbock Christian.
 
Frederico Santos got the scoring started on a pair of free throws but the Dustdevils responded with an 11-1 run behind David Horst's three pointer for an eight-point edge. The game went back and forth as neither squad could garner much of an advantage until TAMIU used a quick 6-0 spurt to lead, 39-32, with 1:29 remaining in the first stanza and held a 39-34 margin at intermission.
 
Santos got the second half started with a layup as the Hillcats knotted the score, 41-41, on a conventional three-point play. Anthony Alston hit a free throw for TAMIU but the RSU defense picked up holding the Dustdevils to just one point over the next 9:56 going on an incredible 22-1 run.
 
The Hillcats regained the lead with J.C. Hartzler's layup and DesJuan Newton followed with a three pointer on the next possession putting RSU in front, 46-42. The lead continued to increase and reached double figures on Jeylyn Sharpe's three-point play and the Cats led by as many as 21 points before closing the road win, 76-59.
 
Santos tallied a game-high 20 points for RSU and completed the double-double with 12 rebounds moving within two of tying John Boyd for the single-season rebounds record at 227. Donald Moore added 13 points while Deran Banton and Newton netted 10 points each to reach double digits.
 
Patrick Carlson led the Dustdevils with 14 points and Montrice McKnight scored 11 as TAMIU drained 10 three pointers in the game.
 
Rogers State (15-7, 9-5 HC) is back in action Thursday playing host to Oklahoma Panhandle State looking for the season sweep. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and can be caught with live audio and video on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.