LUBBOCK, Texas – Behind Frederico Santos' 18-point, 15-rebound double-double, the Rogers State men's basketball team picked up an impressive 72-61 victory on the road at Lubbock Christian Thursday night at Rip Griffin Center.
 
The win stopped a four-game losing streak against the Chaparrals as the Hillcats turned a four-point halftime lead into a double-figure win as Santos, the Heartland Conference's leading rebounded, secured his fourth double-double of the season. His 15 rebounds ranks sixth in all-time, single-game history for RSU men's basketball.
 
J.C. Hartzler beat the shot clock on the first possession of the game draining a three pointer and Jeylyn Sharpe followed with a layup as the Hillcats raced out to an early 5-0 advantage. The margin stretched to eight, 11-3, as Deran Banton and Hartzler each connected from long range.
 
The Chaps used a 7-0 run to get back into the game trailing, 15-14, and tied the game at 17 as Matthew Alford hit a trey, but the Cats answered right back scoring seven of the game's next eight points regaining their lead, 24-18. RSU clung to a four-point cushion, 37-33, at the halftime intermission.
 
The second half began in the same fashion as the opener as Hartzler knocked down another triple, but LCU chipped away and went on to take its only lead of the game, 48-46, on an 8-2 run. Johnathon Buckley quickly evened the score with a bucket starting a 12-0 RSU run to take command of the game with 10 minutes to play.
 
The Hillcats controlled the remaining time on the clock holding LCU without a made field goal for the final 7:28 sealing the conference road victory, 72-61. RSU put together another great performance from the free throw line hitting 16-of-20 (80 percent) for the contest, including five of the final six in the last minute of action.
 
Santos led all scorers with 18 points going 7-of-9 from the floor while Hartzler joined the senior in double figures adding 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc.
 
Rogers State (9-6, 3-4 HC) closes its road trip with a conference matchup against Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. and can be heard live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.