Bearcats Drop Heartbreaker In Final Minute To #17 Stillman

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – The Rust College men's basketball program had a chance to tie the ballgame twice in the final 15 seconds but fell painfully shy during a 69-67 defeat against the defending HBCU Small College National Champions.

The Bearcats were connecting on more than 40% of both its field goals (26-of-61, 42.6%) and three-pointers (10-for-24, 41.7%) but it was its 41.7% free throw percentage that proved costly versus Stillman.

Ronald Strothers' strategy was unorthodox, but it worked well, making six shots on ten shots from behind the arc while going 0-for-4 inside of it, to produce a game-best 21 points.

Christopher Agbo nearly notched a double-double with a stat line of 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds to go along with a block and an assist.

Jordan Watkins was productive off the bench for Coach Newton's bunch, tallying 12 points on 5-of-6 (83.3%) shooting with four boards and two three-pointers added to the ledger.

Rust College will partake in its first true NAIA road matchup on Tuesday evening, traveling to Arkansas to battle the Crowley's Ridge Pioneers at 7 p.m. inside the Carter Activities Center.

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