RSU Athletics
Benjamin Dishong, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletics Communications
CLAREMORE – The Rogers State Men’s Basketball team led wire-to-wire on Saturday to defeat Newman, 77-68, in MIAA play.
The Hillcats took the lead on Gabriel Ferreira’s layup 15-seconds in and never gave it up over the entirety of the game, leading for 39:45 over the former Heartland Conference rival to remain unbeaten in conference play.
Rogers State (8-1, 2-0 MIAA) grew the lead to as much as 13 midway through the second half, but had to fight off a Newman (4-5, 0-2 MIAA) comeback bid, as the Jets got to within two at 64-62 with 2:21 to go.
However, Brewster Peacock responded with a huge three-point play, fighting off a foul on a layup before sinking the and-one opportunity. Peacock’s free throw was the first of an 11-for-11 run of free throws by the Hillcats to close out the game.
As a team, the Hillcats shot 26-for-32 from the stripe to finish at 81.3 percent on free-throw opportunities. The Hillcats edged Newman from the field, shooting 44.7 percent while holding the Jets to 41.1 percent shooting. Both teams shot 45 percent from three-point range.
Peacock and Tavian Davis led the way in scoring for the Hillcats, finishing with 18 points each. Peacock was 5-for-8 from the field, including a trio of three pointers, while going 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Peacock also had four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Davis was 4-for-9 shooting, but was also clutch at the free-throw line, going 8-for-8 for the game, including four in the final 36 seconds to clinch the victory. Davis also had three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Jett Sternberger led the Hillcats on the glass in the game, finishing with a career high seven rebounds to go along with 10 points. Sternberger also had a career high five assists.
Ferreira wrapped up the Hillcats in double figures, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. The senior also matched a career high in blocks, finishing with all three for the Hillcats.
Marques Sumner had eight points and five rebounds to wrap up the production for the Hillcat starters in the game.
Cole Kinnamon led Rogers State off the bench with five points and two rebounds. Darraja Parnell had four points a rebound and a steal, while Christopher Miller finished with four points and two rebounds.
Vaughn Raney came off the bench to record a rebound, steal and an assist.
With the win, the Hillcats improve to 9-5 all-time against Newman and remain undefeated in MIAA play as they jump back into non-conference action for two games prior to a showdown with Northeastern State ahead of the winter break.
Rogers State’s 8-1 start is the best for the Hillcats since the 2015-16 season when the Hillcats went 23-5 en route to a conference championship winning season.
Rogers State will return to action next Saturday, taking on Southwestern Christian in non-conference play. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center.