OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Roderick Rodgers poured in a career-high 23 points and pushed Rogers State to an important road win over Oklahoma Christian at the Eagle's Nest in Oklahoma City Saturday.
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The Hillcats shot a season-high 54-percent from the floor and led for the final 38 minutes of the game en route to a 79-68 win. It was the eighth victory in the last 10 games for Coach Wren Baker's ball club.
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The Eagles scored the first two points of the game on a pair of free throws by Kyle Tefft. RSU responded with a 12-1 run to move comfortably in front. James Coats buried a 3-pointer to push the lead to double digits and the Hillcats eventually expanded the lead to 28-9. The Eagles had won five of their last six games entering Saturday's contest and refused to go down quietly against the Cats on their home floor.
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OC raced back with nine straight points and closed the half on a 22-8 run to cut the deficit to just five points at the half. The Eagles kept the game tight for the first ten minutes of the second half. Tefft, who led all scorers with 24 points, knocked down two free throws with 11:04 to make it a one possession game, 50-48.
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However, OC would get no closer as the Hillcats scored six unanswered points and shot lights out from the floor in the second half. RSU made 14-of-22 field goal attempts in the second half and outscored the Eagles 19-12 over the final six minutes.
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Rodgers bested his 22-point performance last Saturday against Southern Nazarene with 23 points against the Eagles. He went 8-of-11 from the floor and was 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Abram Donlon recorded his team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Eric Young chipped in with 11 points.
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RSU outrebounded the Eagles 34-26 and held OC to just 36-percent shooting for the game. Jeff Crocker scored 16 points and Jason Taylor posted 14 to add to Tefft's game-high 24.
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Rogers State (17-9, 12-8) remains in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with two games to play. The Hillcats will travel to Shawnee Thursday to face Oklahoma Baptist in a pivotal conference showdown. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. and the game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.
