GOODWELL, Okla. – The Rogers State men's basketball team stayed hot shooting 55 percent from the field in a 94-63 victory at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Thursday at Oscar Williams Field House.
 
After shooting 64 percent in back-to-back games, RSU continued its hot shooting stretch going 55 percent (33-60) from the field and 52.2 percent (12-23) from three-point range.
 
RSU's defense was just as impressive holding OPSU to 29.1 percent from the field, the Aggies lowest shooting percentage of the season.
 
With the win, RSU moves to within a half a game of first place in the Heartland Conference standings. The Hillcats are 11-4 in league play behind Dallas Baptist at 11-3.
 
It was all Hillcats to start as RSU scored the first five points of the game on a Robert Johnson jumper and a J.C. Hartzler three.
 
The triples started falling for RSU. Senior guard Donald Moore hit back-to-back treys and Hartzler knocked down another three for an 18-13 lead. Johnson threw down a jam for a 20-13 score with 14:12 remaining in the half. The run continued with a Johnathon Buckley basket and two consecutive layups from Jordan Huffman to double up the Aggies, 26-13.
 
OPSU sliced the deficit to eight points at 34-26 after two free throws, but a 10-1 RSU run upped the advantage to 44-27 after a Travis Julien dunk. The spurt started with a layup from Matt Lea to move the edge back to double figures. Hartzler was fouled on a three-pointer and hit all three free throws for a 13-point lead. After on free throw from the Aggies, Chase Littlejohn put in a triple before the Julien jam. RSU held a 48-35 lead at halftime.
 
The Hillcats dominated to start the second half going on a 29-5 run in the first 10 minutes to pull to their largest lead at 77-40. RSU cruised from there for the 94-63 win.
 
Huffman totaled a career-high 18 points going a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from three. He finished 7-for-8 shooting from the field in only 16 minutes off the bench. Hartzler tallied 15 points with three triples. The senior guard pulled down a game-high six rebounds. Also in double figures were Moore, Johnson and Jeylyn Sharpe all with 10 points. Johnson finished with a career-high five assists. Half of the points came from the RSU bench totaling 47 bench points.
 
OPSU's Antonio Manns, Jr. registered a team-high 16 points, but shot only 3-for-11 from the field. Melvin Mitchell added 15 points.
 
RSU (19-4, 11-4) look to stay in the Heartland Conference hunt on Saturday at Lubbock Christian in Lubbock, Texas. Start time is set for 3 p.m. from the Rip Griffin Center with coverage available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.