CLAREMORE, Okla.- The Rogers State men basketball team defeated Emporia State 82-56 Thursday night at the Claremore Expo Center to secure a spot in next month's MIAA tournament.
 
How it Happened: The Hillcats (19-5, 11-4 MIAA) fell behind to the Hornets (10-13, 4-10 MIAA) early in the first half, but an 18-4 Hillcat run midway through the half would give the Hillcats a lead they would not relinquish.
 
The Hillcats would lead the Hornets with a score of 42-31 at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Hillcats would continue to be dominant, as they would eventually have a lead as large as 28 points.
 
The Hillcats would only allow 25 points from the Hornets in the second half, while the Hillcats put up 41 in each frame.
 
Key Statistics: The Hillcats forced the Hornets to 18 turnovers in the game, turning them into 27 points. Emporia State had just nine points off 11 Hillcat turnovers.
 
The Hillcats outscored the Hornets 38-19 in points from the bench, as well as outscoring them 22-8 in second chance points.
 
Players of Note: The Hillcats had two players, Brewster Peacock and Christopher Miller, finish with 20 points in the game to lead the way for Rogers State in scoring.
 
Peacock would have 18 of his 20 points from three-point range going 6-for-9 from behind the arc. Peacock would also finish with five rebounds and a steal.
 
Miller would score 16 of his 20 points in the paint. Miller also put up eight rebounds and a steal.
 
Marques Sumner would finish the game with 12 points. Sumner would also tally six rebounds, a steal and a block.
 
Darraja Parnell, who returned to the Hillcats after being injured, would be the final member in double-figures for scoring with 11 points. Parnell would also lead the team in rebounds with nine.
 
What it means: The Hillcats have now clinched their spot in the MIAA basketball tournament. The Hillcats are currently the third seed in the tournament behind Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern State.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats will wrap up the home schedule for the 2019-20 season on Saturday, welcoming in Washburn to the Claremore Expo Center for an MIAA contest. The game, which is also Senior Day and Homecoming for Rogers State, will tip off at 4 p.m.