Celebration Photos

DALLAS, Texas – Donald Moore hit a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in double overtime as the Rogers State men's basketball team pulled off a 97-94 victory at Dallas Baptist claiming the regular season Heartland Conference championship Monday night.
 
With both teams throwing what appeared to be knockout punches, Moore stepped back for the final bucket in an instant classic from the Burg Center breaking the 17th tie of the ballgame. The senior promptly deflected the ensuing inbounds pass sealing the Hillcats' first conference title since 2008-09. It also marked the first league championship in any sport since joining NCAA Division II.
 
It was the seniors for RSU that capped an amazing season as Corey Ayala grabbed two offensive rebounds and scored on the second-chance opportunities leading to Moore's winner. Fellow senior Travis Julien played hero of the first overtime rising above all defenders to tip in a long rebound in the final second sending the battle into the second overtime, tied 88-88. The five seniors combined for 87 of the team's 97 points on the night.
 
J.C. Hartzler saved his best performance for his finale as the senior scored a career-high 38 points, ranked second in single game history, posting 29 points in the second half and overtime periods. He knocked down six from long range on the night, including several at clutch moments.
 
Coming as no surprise, the season finale with the regular season title on the line provided a tightly-contested affair. The first half alone featured 11 lead changes and six tie scores as neither team led by more than four points in the opening 20 minutes of action and the lead never reached double figures for either side.
 
Robert Johnson showcased his inside presence after winning the opening tip by hitting the first three shots for RSU taking a 6-2 lead. Following a layup from Jeylyn Sharpe on a slick pass from Ayala, the Patriots tallied the next seven points taking a 9-8 edge.
 
Johnathon Buckley capped a 7-2 run for the Hillcats burying the first triple of the night from the top of the key, the first points from outside the paint, jumping back ahead, 19-17 at the mid-point of the opening half. A Julien jumper gave RSU a 23-21 lead before DBU's Myles Johnson scored from long range pushing the margin back to the home side, 24-23. The Patriots tallied the final four points heading to the locker room at halftime, in front 39-36.
 
RSU spotted DBU a 6-0 run early in the second half as the deficit swelled to nine, the largest lead of the night, 58-49, until Sharpe grabbed an offensive rebound and went up strong for the put back. Johnson took advantage after a Patriot offensive foul, spinning in the lane for a three-point play as the margin was trimmed to four. Hartzler used his third from downtown in the frame cutting the lead to two, 61-59.
 
The senior combined with Moore behind the arc closing a 16-6 stretch for the Hillcats taking their first lead since late in the first half, 65-64. The Patriots briefly regained its edge, but a Hartzler basket at the rim set a new career high in his final collegiate game evening the score, 70-70.
 
Moore drained a pair of free throws after a flagrant DBU foul and Johnson kissed a jump hook off the glass extending the lead to 74-70 with 2:31 remaining in regulation. After a Shannon Lilly three for the Patriots, Hartzler scored at the rim again for a three-point cushion as 74 seconds showed on the clock. Lilly hit from the outside again over the out-stretched arms of two RSU defenders sending the game into overtime.
 
From there it was the a back-and-forth grind as all 10 players on the court were battling for every inch of space, where the Hillcats prevailed needing all 10 minutes of overtime to clinch a 23-5 record winning the league at 15-5 in Heartland Conference action.
 
Hartzler finished with 38 points, while Moore (16), Johnson (15), and Julien (10) joined him in double figures. Ayala added a team-high eight rebounds, including four offensive, and eight points in the final game for the five seniors. Despite winning the conference title, the Hillcats are not eligible for postseason play because of its provisional status with the NCAA.