CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's basketball captured a 64-60 victory over Lubbock Christian Thursday night in a nail biter inside the Claremore Expo.
 
RSU saw an 11 point halftime lead diminish over the opening seven minutes of play as Ridrell Holman knocked down a 3-pointer for LCU to tie the game at 39-39. The Chaparrals took the lead, 43-41, for the first time in the second half just over a minute later on a Marcus Arrington layup.
 
The game would be tied six times over the next eight minutes but a Marcos Schuster assists to a streaking Brennen Fowler led to a dunk for his sixteenth and final point. Baron Smith Jr. would make the first of many big plays in the final minutes as the junior point guard knocked down a right key 3-pointer off a wraparound JD Tisdale assist. Smith wouldn't connect on the and-one opportunity at the line and RSU would lead by just one point, 57-56.
 
A foul by RSU with the Chaparrals in the double bonus led to a pair of Tyler Rogers free throws to give LCU the lead by one with 1:10 to go. Tisdale would make his eleventh and twelfth free throws of the evening, as the Flint, Mich. native attempted 14 shots from the line for the evening all in the final half, and give RSU a one point advantage with 55 seconds remaining.
 
LCU's Tyler Rogers would use a double screen along the right wing to gain a mismatch and a layup to put the Chaps up by one. An attacking Smith found the bottom of the net with a layup off the left side of the glass to put RSU ahead, 61-60, with 37 seconds.
 
Johnathon Buckley, in just his seventh start of the season, drew a charge as Rogers drove the lane for the Chaps. The turnover put the ball back in the Hillcats hands with 21 seconds to go. Smith would receive the inbound and be fouled but the LaGrange, Ga. native went just 1-for-2 at the line to put RSU up 62-60 with 16 seconds left.
 
A missed layup by Schuster went out of bounds and gave the Hillcats possession with four seconds left. Smith again would make a trip to the line and this time knocked down both shots to secure the 64-60 victory.
 
RSU led 35-24 at half behind the sharp shooting of senior guard Travis Hester. The Crozet, Va. native went 5-of-7 from behind the arc for a first half high 15 points as the Hillcats shot 7-of-14 as a team from 3-point.  Coach Justin Barkley's squad shot 46.4 percent from the field in the first stanza.
 
Lubbock Christian (14-9, 8-5) was led by Fowler off the bench with 16 points while Holman added 15 points and Rogers finished with 14. The Chaparrals shot 44 percent from the field and 3-of-15 from 3-point. LCU out-rebounded the Hillcats 38-26, holding RSU to just four offensive boards.
 
Smith, Jr. finished with a game high 20 points shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point as the Hillcats shot 42.9 percent from long distance for the contest. Tisdale totaled 18 points while Hester was held scoreless in the second half finishing with 15 points for the Cats. Buckley led the way on the boards for RSU as the Kellyville, Okla. native pulled down eight rebounds, all on the defensive end.
 
The Hillcats shot just 23.8 percent from the field in the second half but hit at 73.9 percent clip from the free throw line on 23 attempts. The 60 point total from LCU marked the seventh straight game the Hillcats held an opponent to 60 points or fewer.
 
Rogers State (17-7, 10-4) hosts Dallas Baptist at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 11 at the Claremore Expo. The Hillcats will honor six seniors prior to Saturday's game with the Patriots as RSU celebrates Senior Day. RSU Radio 91.3 FM and RSU TV channel 35.1 and Cox Cable channel 86 will broadcast the final home contest of 2017. Live audio and video streaming will be provided on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.