CLAREMORE, Okla. – In a battle between two of the top teams in the Heartland Conference, the Rogers State men's basketball team cruised to a 93-61 win over Texas A&M International on Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center. The two teams came into the matchup a half a game out of first place in the league standings. RSU moved to 10-4, still a half a game back of Dallas Baptist after the Patriots beat St. Edward's today in triple overtime.
 
For the second straight contest, the Hillcats shot 64 percent from the field. RSU finished at 64.8 percent (35-54), the third best shooting performance in school history. On Thursday the Hillcats shot 64.1 percent in a win over St. Mary's. In the second half alone, RSU went 19-for-24 shooting for 79.2 percent, including 10-of-12 shooting from three for 83.3 percent. For the game, the Hillcats shot 60 percent from three ranking seventh all-time in program history.
 
J.C. Hartzler was one three-pointer off tying the school record, hitting six triples in the game. He totaled a game-high 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Robert Johnson tallied a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Donald Moore put in 11 points and finished with a game-high eight assists. Corey Ayala also hit double figures with 14 points and added five assists. All 12 Hillcats scored in the contest with eight players hitting threes.
 
The Hillcats were slow out of the gates as TAMIU put in the first four points of the game. RSU responded to knot the score at 4-4. With the score still tied at 7-7, Hartzler got going from three hitting three straight treys. Jordan Huffman also hit a three during the run as the Hillcats gained a 19-11 advantage midway through the first half.
 
Still feeling it from three, Travis Hester gave RSU its largest lead of the first half at 36-17 with a triple at the 4:46 mark. The three was part of a quick 9-0 run by the Hillcats to push the margin out to 19 points. RSU held a 40-24 lead at halftime.
 
In the second half, it continued to be all RSU. The Hillcats held an edge of at least 17 points through the whole period. The largest lead of 93-61 came after a Johnathan Buckley three, his first points of the contest, with six seconds remaining.
 
The Hillcats (18-4, 10-4 HC) now go on the road for two key Heartland Conference contests. RSU starts at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Thursday in Goodwell, Okla. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with live audio available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.