CLAREMORE, Okla. – Playing a day later than originally scheduled, the Rogers State men's basketball team rallied behind its four seniors for an 82-72 win over Heartland Conference rival UA Fort Smith Sunday night on Senior Night at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The four Hillcat seniors combined to score 53 of the team's 82 points led by DesJuan Newton's 26 points as he went a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. Frederico Santos added a 17-point, 15-rebound double-double as RSU dominated the glass in the first stanza 30-15 and 50-32 for the game outscoring the Lions 26-10 on second-chance points on the night.
 

The Hillcats, winners of their last seven at home, raced out of the gates scoring the opening nine points and held a 10-2 edge before UAFS evened the score, 10-10, with the next eight points. Senior Deran Banton got the raucous crowd to its feet capping a 5-0 stretch for RSU on a thunderous one-handed slam after a mid-court steal.
 

The Lions cut the deficit to one three times before taking its first lead of the half 29-28 on Alex Cooper's three-pointer but the Hillcats regained their advantage taking a 31-29 lead into halftime behind a pair of free throws from Newton.
 
Newton started the second frame with a three-point play getting to the basket on the opening possession as RSU maintained a slim lead throughout most of the second half with the score being knotted five times. A layup by Newton with 7:41 to play tied the game, 58-58, and the Seattle, Washington native followed with an old-fashioned three-point play and the Hillcats never lost the lead again.
 
RSU missed its first 19 three-point attempts before Donald Moore finally connected from long range on back-to-back possessions and the margin stretched to double figures for the first time, 72-62, on a layup from Santos. The Hillcats secured the conference win and season sweep of the Lions from the charity stripe, 82-72.
 
Five players reached double figures for RSU as Moore and J.C. Hartzler chipped in 11 points while Banton added 10. Those same five also pulled down at least five rebounds for the Hillcats.
 
DaVaunta Thomas was the only UAFS player to reach double figures scoring 23 points while three others finished the night with nine.
 
RSU (19-8, 13-6 HC) can take sole possession of second place in the Heartland Conference standings with a win while closing the 2014-15 season at home against visiting Dallas Baptist Monday, March 2. The 6 p.m. tip can be caught live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on the air on RSU Radio 91.3FM.