CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball overcame a slow start versus in-state rival Northeastern State Wednesday evening by scratching and clawing to top the RiverHawks 66-52 at the Claremore Expo.
 
Both teams went bucket for bucket for nearly the first 15 minutes of action with neither team gaining more than a three point advantage until NSU's Cameron Martin hit a jumper from the paint to give the RiverHawks a 16-11 lead with just over five minutes before intermission.
 
The Hillcats responded after a timeout with five straight points, first with a 3-pointer from Travis Hester followed by a Chase Littlejohn jumper to even the score. RSU wasn't finished as JD Tisdale hit a pair of free throws and Littlejohn did the same to give the Cats a four point advantage with 3:25 remaining.
 
NSU cut the lead to 20-18 on a put back dunk by Erick Broadnax but the Hillcats went on another 5-0 run capped by another Hester 3-pointer and entered halftime leading 26-19.
 
RSU opened the second stanza just as it had closed out the first by stringing together yet another 5-0 run to build a 12 point advantage just a minute into the half. The RiverHawks replied with a 6-0 run of its own as Tanner Mouse connected from deep to trim the deficit to 31-25 with 16:24 remaining.
 
Baron Smith Jr. found Matt Lea with 12:46 to go putting the Hillcats up 37-29 but the RiverHawks had one last fight in them as they cut the Hillcat lead to six points on a pair of Karon Waller free throws six minutes later. NSU was able to keep RSU from building a double digit lead for the next three minutes until Smith converted a layup off a Buckley steal to put the Cats up 56-46 with 3:37 left in the half and coach Justin Barkley's squad didn't allow the lead to dip below that mark coming away with a 66-52 victory.
 
Northeastern State (0-3) shot 3-of-14 from 3-point range and had just two players finish in double figure scoring as Montre' Williams and Karon Waller totaled 11 points each. 
 
Baron Smith Jr. led the Hillcats with a career high 20 points while grabbing a team high three steals as the Hillcats forced NSU into 19 turnovers and finished with 22 points off turnovers. Johnathon Buckley finished with a double-double scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. JD Tisdale rounded out the Hillcats in double digit scoring as he tallied 10 points as he converted on all six of his free throws.
 
Rogers State (2-1) returns to action Saturday, November 19 at 4 p.m. hosting Bacone College for Hillcat Homecoming. Live coverage will be provided on RSU Radio 91.3 FM (KRSC-FM) and simulcast on the Hillcat Network along with live video streaming at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.