CLAREMORE, Okla. – Hours after moving into a tie for a No. 4 ranking in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, the Rogers State Hillcats rode a rollercoaster of emotions in an 88-78 overtime victory over Avila University Tuesday night inside the Claremore Expo.
RSU held a 48-32 lead at the intermission and built the lead to 21 points with 15:42 remaining in the game. Avila answered with a 25-5 run including a 3:33 Hillcat drought in the middle of the second stanza to pull the score to 67-66.
A traditional three point play by Louis Lowe gave the visiting Eagles its first lead since the 15:32 mark of the first half. Avila built the lead to 73-68 with 5:16 remaining but RSU answered with an and-one by Donald Williams and a pair of free throws by Kendrell Thompson to tie the game at 73-73. The teams traded the lead three times over the final 2:54 before Avila's Brandon Redmond connected on the backside of two free throws to tie the game at 76-76 with 32 seconds remaining.
The Hillcats were unable to capitalize on the final possession as Ken Holdman's contested shot in the lane was off the mark and a jumper from Williams drew iron as time expired sending RSU to its first overtime affair of the season.
In the extra time RSU jumped to an early four point advantage and held a lead that never dropped below two points in the extra period as they outscored Avila 12-2.
The Hillcats moved to 3-0 all-time versus the Eagles with the 88-78 victory.
Avila (4-5) hit just 15.4 percent from long distance as the Eagles were whistled for 29 fouls. Curtis Churchman led Avila with 21 points. Tulsa, Okla. native Sedrick Johnson added 17 for the Eagles.
RSU shot 45.6 percent from the field connecting on just 25-of-40 from the charity stripe. Five Hillcats reached double-figure scoring led by Williams with 23. Kendrell Thompson added 19 points while Ken Holdman had 11 and Alex Ewings finished with 10. Justynn Hammond came off the bench to drop in 12 points.
Rogers State (10-1) will travel to Alva, Okla. on Saturday to face Northwestern Oklahoma State in Percefull Fieldhouse for an 8 p.m. tip. The game will be carried on RSU Radio 91.3FM and online at www.rsuhillcats.com/live or www.rsuradio.com.
