CLAREMORE, Okla. – J.C. Hartzler became the program's all-time leading scorer Saturday, but the Rogers State men's basketball team suffered its first defeat of the season with a 90-85 loss to the Hilltoppers of St. Edward's at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma matched the record of 1,111 points set by Sylvester Spicer (2007-10) with a layup in the first half and moved into sole possession less than four minutes later driving to the basket and kissing a scoop shot off the glass.
 
The bucket was part of a 6-0 RSU run that gave the Hillcats an 18-16 advantage before SEU scored the next nine points to move back in front, 27-21, on back-to-back three pointers.
 
The Hilltoppers used a strong outside shooting performance to build a 41-33 lead heading into halftime. SEU shot 9-for-15 from long range in the half, with John Gramlich and Sean Watkins each netting three triples.
 
RSU came out of the halftime break firing and getting the crowd reenergized. The Hillcats opened the frame on a 10-2 run that included eight-straight points, closing the gap to two, 43-41. Donald Moore evened the score, 46-46, knocking down a triple with 16:01 to play and later Travis Julien converted at the rim on consecutive possessions giving the Cats their first lead in nearly 14 minutes, 56-54. Julien tied the game throwing down a two-handed slam of a perfect inside feed from Jeylyn Sharpe.
 
Robert Johnson hit a pair of free throws to even the score, 65-65, until SEU used a quick 5-0 run to jump ahead and never relented the lead over the final eight minutes of action.
 
Each time it seemed RSU was ready to take charge, the hot shooting Hilltoppers answered on the other end holding on for the 90-85 road win. SEU finished the game shooting 15-for-24 from distance and outscored the Hillcats 38-10 off the bench.
 
RSU had all five starters in double figures, led by a double-double performance from Johnson. The senior tallied a career-best 20 points with a game-high 10 rebounds. Sharpe, Moore, Hartzler, and Corey Ayala joined Johnson with double figures in the first loss of the season for RSU.
 
Hartzler joins his father as all-time leading scorers at their respective schools after Kirt Hartzler ended his four-year career (1981-85) at Evangel University with 1,666 points, a record that stood for seven years.
 
The Hillcats (11-1 overall, 3-1 HC) travel to Laredo, Texas to take on the Dustdevils of Texas A&M International. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7. Catch the action with live audio on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.