CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State men's basketball team opened up the Sooner Athletic Conference home schedule by walloping Wayland Baptist 84-64 inside the Claremore Expo Thursday night.

RSU came out early setting the nets on fire building a 24-4 lead in the opening 9:15 of the game. For the remainder of the half the Hillcats led the Pioneers by no less than 11 points as RSU entered the intermission up 44-30.

Despite the Hillcats holding the lead to 54-42, WBU was able to build a 9-0 run of its own cutting the RSU lead to three points with 11:35 remaining. That's when coach Justin Barkley's squad seemed to flip a switch, going on a 20-4 run over a six minute stretch. RSU built the highest lead of the game at 27 points with 2:51 to go. The Cats closed out the contest with an 84-64 victory.

Donald Williams stole the show knocking down six 3-pointers, just shy of the school record of seven held by Deveric Taylor. The junior guard scored all 18 of his points from behind the arc as the Hillcats hit 10 3-pointers.

Kendrell Thompson matched Williams with 18 points to lead all-scorers. Larry Cox dropped in 15 points while Alex Ewings added 11, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the second half to rally the troops.

RSU hit 71.4 percent from the charity stripe and dished out 12 assists. The Cats forced the Pioneers into 21 turnovers while nabbing 12 steals.

Wayland Baptist (5-3, 0-1) shot 72.7 percent from the free throw line but shot just 36.4 percent from long distance. TJ Jacobs led the Pioneers with 17 points while Isaiah Jackson chipped in with 13.

Rogers State (6-0, 2-0) will return to the court as Lubbock Christian comes to the Claremore Expo on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tip time is set for 3 p.m. as the game will be video streamed at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.