CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State Hillcats opened the 2008-09 season in style with a 66 point exhibition win over Barclay College (Haviland, Kan.) Saturday at the Claremore Expo.
 

Junior Eric Young led four players in double figures with 16 points as the Cats cruised to a 104-38 decision. Young went 8-for-14 from the floor while Roderick Rodgers, Deveric Taylor and Matt Kellogg added 11 points each. RSU shot a blistering 56 percent from the floor while holding its overmatched opponent to just 25 percent.
 

The Hillcats took control early by scoring the first seven points of the contest. Seven different players scored during a 19-0 first half run that spanned more than seven minutes. Senior Spencer Schrupp capped the rally with a jumper to make it 44-7 at the 7:57 mark of the first half. RSU held the Bears to just six field goals in the first half and extended its lead to 60-17 at the break.
 

Barclay scored the first three points of the second half before the Cats answered with a 24-0 streak. Desmond Ward scored the last five points of the run with a trey and two free throws in his debut for the Hillcats. All 13 players in uniform scored at least one basket for first year head coach Lloyd Williams. Williams went to his bench early and often with no player logging more than 19 minutes of playing time.
 

Rodgers recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Sylvester Spicer added eight points and nine rebounds off the bench. Toney Hatton led the Bears with nine points and six rebounds.
 

Saturday's contest was designed as a tune-up for Wednesday's highly anticipated game against Oklahoma State. The Hillcats will travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face the Cowboys in Travis Ford's debut as the head coach at OSU. RSU lost 62-53 to the Cowboys last season at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
 

Tip-off for Wednesday's contest is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and the game can be heard live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.