WICHITA- The Jets hosted Rogers State for their second match up this season. Early this season, the Jets fell to the Hillcats by just ten points at 76-66. This time out against RSU, the Jets took the contest 85-79.
How it Happened:
-The Jets scored on their first two possessions of the game with both baskets by
Thatcher McClure. Free throws by
Aaron Murphy took the Jets early lead to 6-1. McClure hit his sixth point of the night to keep the Jets ahead. The Jets held onto the lead until the 14 minute mark where the Hillcats tied the game at 13 all with a three pointer. Rogers State then took the lead at 16-14 with a basket at the 13 minute mark.
Jordan Glenn-Hawkins' eighth point of the night cut the Hillcats lead to two, but the Hillcats were able to answer with a run that took their lead to 28-18 with just under nine minutes to play in the half. A basket by Murphy cut the deficit to eight. However, the Hillcats took their lead back to double-digits with a three pointer.
Jacob Joe responded on the next Jets possession with a three pointer and his first points of the night. This three by Joe cut the score to 31-23 with seven minutes to play. The Hillcats pushed their lead back out to double-digits until
Boston Stanton III connected with his first basket of the night to make it 37-30 with under four to play.
Sam Somerhalder added his first bucket on the next Newman score to cut the deficit to just five. The Hillcats were able to connect with a few shots to make it a 44-32 lead, but Glenn-Hawkins sent the Jets into the half with some confidence after hitting a three as time expired. The Hillcats went into halftime up 44-35.
- Out of the halftime break, Stanton III hit the first bucket for the Jets to cut the deficit to seven. McClure was next to score with a basket to take the Jets within five points. The Hillcats then hit a three to push their lead out to 47-39 with 17:30 left to play. The Jets continued to chip away at the Hillcats lead. Murphy hit his eighth point to bring Newman within six points, but Rogers State hit another three to take the lead back to nine points. The Jets put three points together to close the gap to six with under 15 minutes to play. Four straight points from
Deadric Fikes at the 12 minute mark brought the Jets within just four points. Rogers State answered, pulling ahead by eight points just one minute later. Stanton III and Murphy hit back to back shots to cut the Hillcats lead to three. RSU continued to battle, keeping the Jets down by just a few points for th next few minutes. Finally, at the 6:30 mark,
Jayden Schoen hit a three and was fouled, turning it into a four point play for the Jets. This four point play tied the game at 64 all. Fikes hit two free throws on the next offensive possession to put the Jets up 66-65. Murphy hit key free throws with five and a half to play that put the Jets up three points. Back-to-back baskets by Fikes and Stanton III pushed the Jets to a six point lead with just over three minutes to play. Newman continued to battle and hold the lead for the next few minutes. Though the Hillcats made a good effort to overcome the deficit, the Jets hit free throws in the closing minute to hold onto the lead. The Jets took the contest, 85-79.
Player Notes:
-Stanton III led with 17 points, five assists, and seven boards.
-Glenn-Hawkins scored 14 points.
-Fikes added 13 points with six rebounds.
-McClure and Murphy added 12 points apiece.
The Jets hit the road next Thursday and Saturday to face Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State.
