OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Rogers State played inspired basketball for 35 minutes before ultimately running out of gas against No. 13 Oklahoma City Thursday night at Abe Lemons Arena.
 

The Stars closed the game on a 22-10 run to turn what was a very competitive contest for much of the night into a decisive 81-64 victory in the final minutes.
 

Willie Irick, Ollie Bailey and Kameron Gray each posted 21 points for the Stars who shot 57-percent from the field in the second half to improve to 8-2 in Sooner Athletic Conference play. OCU led 59-54 with 6:00 remaining after Eric Young buried a 3-pointer from the wing. However, Bailey scored eight of the next 10 points to erase any chance of a Hillcat upset.
 

The two teams exchanged the lead four times in a first half full of runs. RSU mounted an 11-0 run at the midway point of the first half to claim a 19-14 lead. The Stars answered with a 9-0 run and took a 36-30 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
 

The Hillcats never regained the lead in the second half, but kept things tight until the final five minutes. Young cut the OCU lead to two with a free throw with 11:18 remaining. That's as close as RSU would get. Irick knocked down a three from the corner to give the Stars their first double digit lead with 4:45 left and the Cats were unable to mount a final challenge.
 

Sylvester Spicer led RSU with 12 points and seven rebounds. Young and Bryson Krueger each posted 11 points while Abram Donlon added 11 boards. RSU shot 43-percent from the floor and converted just 9-of-20 free throw attempts (45-percent). The Stars held a 36-to-33 rebounding advantage and committed 17 personal fouls to the Hillcats 28.
 

Rogers State (9-7, 4-6) returns home on Saturday to host Mid-America Christian at the Claremore Expo. Game time is slated for 8 p.m. and the contest will be aired live on RSU Public Television and RSU Radio 91.3 FM.