LUBBOCK, Texas –The Rogers State men's basketball team couldn't slow down host Lubbock Christian as the Chaps shot 62 percent en route to a 99-70 win on Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center.
 
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for RSU. With the loss, the Hillcats stayed in second place in the league standings, but are now tied with Lubbock Christian and UA Forth Smith at 11-5. Dallas Baptist won today and is alone in first place at 12-3.
 
The Chaps scored the first eight points, including two three-pointers, and pulled out to an early 17-4 lead in the first eight minutes of the contest. The advantage continued to grow as LCU held a 27-9 edge midway through the first half. After the first 20 minutes, the Chaps were in front, 49-30.
 
In the first half, RSU shot only 37.9 percent (11-29), while LCU shot 61.5 percent (16-26). The Chaps outrebounded the Hillcats, 21-8, in the first half with a 13-3 advantage in second chance points.
 
LCU got a dunk to start the second half, but the Hillcats made a run to cut the deficit to 16 points at 51-35 after a J.C. Hartzler three-pointer. The 16-point margin was as close as RSU came in the second half as the Chaps pushed the lead to 63-39 with 14 minutes remaining.
 
The Chaps were up by as many as 32 points in the second half and went on to win, 99-70.
 
For the contest, LCU shot 62 percent (31-50) from the field and 55.6 percent (5-9) from three.  The 62 percent shooting is the highest allowed by the Hillcats this season. It's only the second time a team has shot better than 50 percent against RSU. The Chaps shot 40 free throws and converted 32. Those numbers are also a season high for opponents against the Hillcats this season. LCU held a 39-20 advantage in rebounds.
 
RSU finished at 39.7 percent (23-58), snapping a three-game streak of 55 percent or better from the field. The Hillcats shot 36 percent (9-25) from three.
 
Corey Ayala totaled a team-high 11 points. Jordan Huffman and Robert Johnson added 10 points each. Johnson had a team-high five rebounds.
 
LCU's A.J. Luckey finished with a game-high 23 points, and Brennen Fowler registered a double-double with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Two other Chaps tallied double figures.
 
The Hillcats (19-5, 11-5 HC) return to the Claremore Expo Center for their final two home contests of the season. The stretch starts with Oklahoma Christian on Thursday (Feb. 18) at 7:30 p.m. Coverage is available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live along with on RSUTV and on 91.3 FM.