Box Score

TULSA, Okla. – J.C. Hartzler scored 25 points for the Rogers State men's basketball team in its exhibition opener at NCAA Division I Oral Roberts in an 82-74 loss Monday night at Mabee Center.
 
The senior paced the Hillcats in his hometown hitting four shots from long range and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line in a game that featured six lead changes and seven ties.
 
After the Golden Eagles scored the opening three pointer, Hartzler got the Hillcats on the board driving to the lane. The senior got to the basket again and converted a three-point play starting a 7-2 run for RSU to even the score 13-13. Jordan Huffman and Johnathon Buckley came off the bench running the fast break to perfection following a defensive rebound capping the run.
 
Travis Julien powered his way to the basket putting RSU in front 15-14 at the 12-minute media timeout before Buckley stretched the lead to three on a layup. The Golden Eagles regained a three-point edge on back-to-back triples and continued on a 14-2 run forcing a RSU timeout, trailing 28-19.
 
ORU pushed to an 11-point advantage, 36-25, which the Hillcats quickly erased with strong outside shooting from Hartzler and Huffman to make it a 38-38 contest with 1:24 to play in the first half. Donald Moore hit a pull-up jumper with 20 seconds remaining giving RSU a 40-38 advantage, but ORU's Kris Martin beat the buzzer from long range putting the Golden Eagles in front 41-40 at the break.
 
Hartzler closed the opening stanza with 15 points and wasted no time in the second frame adding to that total by hitting a pair of triples moving RSU ahead, 46-44. The teams battled back and forth until Huffman converted on the fast break as the Hillcats built a 54-50 lead. Buckley and Huffman scored at the rim and Travis Hester knocked down a three from the top of the key stretching the lead to 61-52.
 
Over the next five minutes, the Golden Eagles capitalized with the RSU starters on the bench holding the Cats scoreless while whittling away at the deficit behind an 11-0 run. With the score tied, 67-67, ORU made another strong push scoring 13 of the next 15 points and held on for an 82-74 victory.
 
Hartzler led all scorers with 25 points and Jeylyn Sharpe shot 6-of-8 from the floor adding 12 points for the Hillcats. Robert Johnson pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds in his navy and red debut as RSU won the battle on the glass 40-29, including a 17-6 advantage on the offensive end. Jalen Bradley and Omi Emegano scored 17 points each to pace the Golden Eagles.
 
The Hillcats continue a three-game exhibition season at one of the premier college basketball venues in Albuquerque, New Mexico facing the University of New Mexico at The Pit. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. central time and can be heard live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.