CLAREMORE, Okla. - Just when it seemed like nothing could go right for Rogers State, everything did, as the Hillcats drained away their sorrows with their best shooting performance of the season Saturday night.

RSU, which had lost four of its last five games entering Saturday's contest with Mid-America Christian, shot 53-percent and knocked down a season-high 13 3-pointers to blow past the Evangels 88-52 at the Claremore Expo.

The Hillcats hit nine treys in the second half alone and finished 13-of-25 from downtown. James Coats led the scoring barrage with four buckets from behind the arc and posted a season-high 13 points. Bryson Krueger and Chris Francis each tallied three 3-pointers. Francis also enjoyed a career-high 11 points on the night.

The Evangels stayed within striking distance for much of the first half thanks to 11 first half points by Joe Brown. Francis capped an 11-0 run by the Cats with a three from the wing to give RSU a 19-11 lead with 12:27 remaining. Sylvester Spicer put an exclamation point on the first half with a thunderous alley-oop slam on a perfect feed from Aldric Reynolds right before the buzzer.

RSU put together another 11-0 run early in the second half to put the game out of reach. Francis swished the thirteenth and final trey of the night with 3:28 left to give the Cats an 85-50 advantage.

Stevan Thomas led the Evangels with 12 points. Brown, MACU's leading scorer on the season, was held scoreless in the second half.
Spicer posted his fourth double-double of the season for RSU with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Six RSU players scored in double figures led by Coats, Eric Young and Abram Donlon with 13 apiece.

Rogers State (10-7, 5-6) moved into a tie for sixth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings with the victory. The Hillcats remain at home next week as they host St. Gregory's at the Claremore Expo Thursday night. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. and the game will be aired live on RSU Public Television and RSU Radio 91.3 FM.