FORT SMITH – UAFS and Rogers State have had their share of hard-fought games in the past few seasons, and the Lions’ encounter with the Hillcats on Thursday night at the Stubblefield Center was no different.
Four players scored in double-figures as the Lions held off the Hillcats 73-69 to begin defense of their Heartland Conference title.
It was the last game of a successful six-game home stand for the Lions (8-0, 1-0), who are ranked No. 7 in the latest D2SIDA Top 25 and No. 22 in the latest NABC Division II Top 25. It was the first game of a stretch of three games in four days for UAFS, which will play Lubbock Christian at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas, and play NCAA Division Pacific in an exhibition game on Sunday in Stockton, Calif.
Senior guard Darrion Strong-Moore had a team-high 18 points for the Lions, who led 34-31 at halftime. Sophomore guard Kyree Elder had 12 points, while senior guard DaVaunta Thomas and freshman forward Adam Rivera had 10 points apiece.
UAFS shot 40 percent from the field (25 of 63) – it was 4-of-13 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 50 percent from 3-point range (19 of 38).
Elder had a team-high 12 rebounds to help the Lions out-rebound the Hillcats by eight rebounds (44-36).
The Lions’ balanced offensive performance was just enough to offset a career-scoring night for Hillcats guard Baron Smith, Jr., who led the Hillcats with 38 points. Guard Saint Hilaire had 12 points to round out the Hillcats’ double-figure scoring.
Rogers State shot 42 percent from the field (22 of 53) – it was 6-of-22 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 73 percent from the free-throw line (19 of 26).
Forward George Loy had a team-high seven rebounds.
MEN
NO. 7/22 UAFS 73, ROGERS STATE 69
Rogers State 31 38 — 69
UAFS 34 39 — 73
Rogers State (6-2, 0-1): Baron Smith, Jr. 38, Hilaire 12, Peacock 7, Davis 5, Loy 3, Ferreira 2, Harness 2
UAFS (8-0, 1-0): Strong-Moore 18, Elder 12, Rivera 10, Thomas 10, Wallace 9, Jolly 6, Coleman 6, Crawford 2
