CLAREMORE, Okla. – Central Oklahoma ended the Rogers State men's basketball team's nine-game home winning streak with a 68-53 nonconference victory over the navy and red on Saturday (Dec. 30) at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Hillcats (9-4) lost at home for the first time since Jan. 21, 2017 when UAFS defeated the navy and red 49-46. RSU then ended the 2016-17 season with four straight wins at home and then won five straight to start this season at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Bronchos (10-3) scored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer by Marquis Johnson and never trailed again en route to the 68-53 score.
 
With the score tied at 5-5 at the 15:11 mark of the first half, UCO went on a 15-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 20-7 edge on two Jordan Hemphill free throws with 10:58 to go before halftime. The Bronchos held a double-digit lead of 12 points at 37-25 at the half.


In the second half, the Cats made a run to cut the deficit to three points at 43-40 on a Tate Turner jumper at the 13:03 mark. After the Bronchos went up 43-30 on a layup with 17 minutes remaining, RSU registered 10 straight points. Baron Smith Jr. started the run with a basket, and Brewster Peacock hit two jumpers along with two Saint Hilaire free throws to make it 43-38 before the Turner jumper pulled the Cats to within three.
 
UCO responded with back-to-back 3s to push the margin to nine at 49-40. The Bronchos held control for the rest of the game and extended the advantage to as many as 20 points in the 68-53 game.
 
Three Hillcats finished in double figures with Turner scoring a team-high 11 points. Smith and Peacock each added 10 points.
 
UCO's Marqueese Grayson tallied a game-high 13 points as the only Broncho in double figures.
 
The Bronchos shot 50 percent (28-56) from the field and posted a 38-25 edge in rebounding. UCO did its damage inside with 34 points in the paint.
 
The Hillcats play at Newman on Thursday (Jan. 4) at 7:30 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita, Kan. Radio coverage will be available on 91.3 FM with live stats and video also available.