FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Rogers State men's basketball team's bench propelled the Hillcats to a 62-50 win over Ouachita Baptist on day two of the UAFS Holiday Classic on Saturday (Dec. 16) at the Stubblefield Center.
 
RSU (8-3) totaled more than half of its points from the bench as the navy and red finished with 34 bench points. The only three Cats in double figures were reserves with Chase Littlejohn pacing the team with 12 points on four 3-pointers, all coming an in early run when RSU took control of the contest. Saint Hilaire and Gabriel Ferreira each added 10 points as the three tallied 32 of the 34 points off the bench.
 
It was all Hillcats to start the game as the navy and red pulled out to a 26-6 advantage in the first 10 minutes. Littlejohn scored all 12 of his points during the commanding start as he knocked down four straight triples. Tate Turner did some damage from 3 during the run, hitting two, including the game's first points. Ferreira capped the run with a layup for the 26-6 score with 10:02 left before halftime.
 
RSU held a 35-14 lead, their largest of the game, with 3:46 remaining before halftime after two Tavian Davis free throws, but the Tigers ended the first half with an 11-0 run for a 35-25 halftime score.
 
In the first half, RSU shot 47.1 percent (8-17) from 3 to build the advantage. OBU made only one 3-pointer in the opening stanza for 11.1 percent (1-9)
 
To start the second half, OBU registered the first two points to pull to within eight at 35-27, but the margin was the closest the Tigers would get in the second half as the Hillcats cruised to the 62-50 victory.
 
For the game, RSU shot 17-of-43 from the field for 39.5 percent. In the second half, the Cats totaled only 14 field goal attempts as the navy and red went to the free throw line 25 times. In the contest, the Hillcats went 20-of-31 for 64.5 percent from the line.
 
OBU finished at 39.1 percent (18-46) from the field and 15.4 percent (2-13) from 3. The Tigers shot 12-of-18 from the line for 66.7 percent. Wesley Franklin was the lone Tiger in double figures with 13 points.
 
The Hillcats return home for one game before the holiday break. RSU takes on Cameron on Tuesday (Dec. 19) at 12 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center. Coverage will be available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.