CLAREMORE, Okla. - A refuse to lose attitude carried Rogers State to its second consecutive conference victory as the Hillcats outlasted Oklahoma City, 80-77, Thursday night at the Claremore Expo.
 
In a game that featured eight ties and 17 lead changes, RSU came up with the last big play and held on for a win it desperately needed. Senior Lance Sullivan turned in a clutch performance with 28 points, 6 steals, 5 rebounds and four assists. 
 
The Hillcats held a one point lead after Kavon Lytch sank two free throws with 23 seconds remaining. OCU fouled Deveric Taylor on the ensuing play. Taylor missed both ends of a double bonus, giving the Stars the opportunity to take the final shot. As the clocked ticked down, Jerome Phillips drove the lane and passed to an open teammate for what could have been a game-winning layup. However, Phillips barreled into Matt Kellogg as he dished the ball and was called for a charge as the RSU junior forward stood firm to absorb the blow.
 
OCU was forced to foul again and Reggie Burnett calmly knocked down two free throws to seal the win. 
 
The Hillcats fell behind by eight points at the midway point of the first half before storming back. Sullivan capped a 13-2 lead with a trey to grab a 27-24 lead for the Hillcats with 4:55 to play in the half. OCU regained the lead right before the half on a layup by Jeremy McCarty. 
 
RSU trailed by as many as five points in the opening minutes of the second period. The teams traded the lead seven times in the second half alone. OCU's Chris Brown buried a jumper with 3:05 remaining to give the Stars a two-point lead. However, Sullivan answered with his fifth trey of the night, putting the Cats in front for good, 76-75.
 
Brown scored a team-high 23 points for the Stars. Taylor and Chris Francis aided Sullivan's big night with 14 points apiece. The Hillcats won despite being outrebounded, 40-23. RSU made the most of its opportunities by knocking down 15 of 23 shots in the second half and converting 78 percent of its free throws on the night.
 
Rogers State (9-5, 2-4) will look to extend its conference winning streak to three games Saturday night at Mid-America Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. and the game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.