SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Rogers State men's basketball team scored the first points of the game and hung with NCAA Division I Texas State early, but the Bobcats pulled away en route to a 77-48 exhibition victory over the Hillcats on Saturday (Nov. 4) night in front of 1,131 fans at Strahan Coliseum.
 
Senior point guard Baron Smith Jr., an All-Heartland Conference selection in 2016-17, got a steal and a fastbreak layup to score the first points of the contest in the opening minute for an early 2-0 RSU lead.
 
Midway through the first half, RSU trailed by only five at 14-9 after a layup from newcomer Saint Hilaire.
 
Texas State then went on a 14-2 run over the next six minutes to pull out to a 28-11 advantage with 5:43 remaining in the first half. At the halftime break, Texas State held a 37-19 edge.
 
In the second half, the Bobcats totaled their largest margin of 30 points at 51-21 with 14:34 left on their way to the 77-48 final score.
 
Freshman Brewster Peacock scored a game-high 13 points and added a team-high four rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Hilaire chipped in 12 points, and Smith posted 11 points with a game-high five assists. A total of 11 Hillcats saw action in the exhibition game.
 
TSU's Immanuel King registered 13 points and Nijal Pearson totaled 11 points. The Bobcats shot 50 percent (23-46) from the field.
 
The Hillcats now prepare for the regular season next weekend in Colorado. The season starts on Friday (Nov. 10) at Colorado State-Pueblo at 8 p.m. in Pueblo, Colo.