Coyotes hold own with Rogers State
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

LINDSBORG – Kansas Wesleyan came into Friday’s match-up with Rogers State just hoping to keep it within distance. The Coyotes did just that, forcing 23 Hillcat turnovers and turning them into 25 points as KWU fell to Rogers State 77-65 at Hahn Gym.

Trey Sims led the Coyotes with 29 points, doing as much as he could to keep Wesleyan close.

The Coyotes took an early 4-2 lead on a bucket by Romero Hood with 19 minutes left, but a three point play by Aldric Reynolds would cap a 5-0 Hillcat run giving them a 7-4 lead.

Wesleyan would answer back with a 5-0 run of its own to take back a 9-7 lead with 15:21 to go in the first half. Eric Young would then tip in a shot on Roger State’s next possession to tie it.

The Coyotes would trade the lead back and forth with Rogers, until Roddrick Rodgers would hit a shot, sparking an 8-2 run to put the Hillcats up 22-16 with 8:10 to go.

KWU would fight back, using a 9-2 run to take a 25-24 lead on free throws from Mike Bartee. Reynolds would answer with a three, and the Hillcats would close the half with a 13-3 run to take a 27-38 lead into the half.

Reynolds would make a steal and lay up with 13:24 left to give Rogers State its biggest lead of the night at 52-34, but the Coyotes would work their way back into it.

Dane Baxa would score on a nifty pass from DaRon Stafford, as the Coyotes whittled their way back into it, getting within nine points at 45-54 with 10:16 to go.

Bartee would cut the Rogers lead to eight at the 8:19 mark, but the Hillcats would respond with a 9-0 run to pull back out to a 17-point lead at 66-49 with 4:52 left.

Rodgers would give Rogers State a 16-point cushion with 2:53 left on a three point play, but Wesleyan did not fold up the tents, cutting the lead to 11 on a Willie McCarty bucket with 30 seconds left. Reynolds would hit a final free throw for Rogers State to give the Hillcats a 77-65 win.

Sims’ 29 led the Coyotes, as he was the only player in double figures. Bartee would add eight as Wesleyan was 22-of-55 in the game for 40 percent. Sims and Tony Boone each had four rebound to lead Wesleyan as a much bigger and physical Rogers State team pounded the Coyotes on the boards 46-22. Boone also added six assists and four steals.

Young led the way for Rogers State with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Rodgers added 16 points and nine boards. The Hillcats were 27-of-58 from the field for 46.6 percent.

Rogers State (3-0) plays Bethany on Saturday at 4:00, while Wesleyan will wrap up the KWU Basketball Classic, taking on Northwestern Oklahoma State at 8:00 at Hahn Gym in Lindsborg.

-- KWU SI --