EDMOND, Okla. - Christmas came early for Rogers State Tuesday night as the Hillcats received a big gift in the form of a new player and earned an impressive road win at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
 
Junior forward John Boyd made a huge impact in his season debut, posting 17 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots in a 79-75 victory for RSU. The NEO A&M-transfer sparked the Cats on both ends of the floor and shell-shocked the Bronchos, who had won 28 of their last 29 games at Hamilton Field House. 
 
Boyd got the starting nod from head coach Lloyd Williams and played 37 minutes in his first career contest for RSU. The Hillcats fell behind by double digits late in the first half despite shooting 61 percent from the field. The lead ballooned to 13 at the five minute mark on a free throw by Chris Rhymes. However, RSU closed the half on a 15-5 run and trailed by just three at the break. 
 
The Bronchos pushed the advantage back to six with a quick start to the second half, but the Cats refused to go away. Deveric Taylor nailed a trey at the 9:36 mark to tie the game and Lance Sullivan gave RSU its first lead on a pair of free throws thirty seconds later. UCO retied the game twice over the next three minutes, but never regained the lead.
 
Boyd and Sylvester Spicer extended the margin to five points with back-to-back buckets inside the three minute mark. The Hillcats held UCO to only one field goal over the final three minutes and converted 7 of 8 free throws in the waning moments to seal the win.
 
Sullivan and Taylor added to Boyd's big night with 19 points apiece in the victory. Taylor scorched the nets with five 3-pointers while Sullivan was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Boyd finished 6 of 10 from the field and also added two steals and two assists to his totals. Spicer and Reggie Burnett combined for 20 points as all five starters played 30-plus minutes.
 
Dauntae Williams scored 16 points in the losing effort for UCO. The Hillcats out-rebounded the Bronchos by four and held them to 38 percent shooting on their home floor. It marked the second RSU win of the season over an NCAA Division II opponent. The Cats topped East Central University in their exhibition opener at the Claremore Expo.
 
Rogers State (7-4) hits the semester break on a two-game winning streak. The Hillcats will not play again until Jan. 2, when they travel to Oklahoma Christian for a Sooner Athletic Conference match-up. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. and the game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.