TULSA, Okla. – Rogers State's Gage Loy posted a career-high 32 points, only three points off the Heartland Conference Tournament record, and 10 rebounds for a double-double, but the Hillcats couldn't recover from a 14-point halftime deficit in a 78-63 loss to Lubbock Christian in the Heartland Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Friday (March 2) at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center. RSU ends the 2017-18 season at 18-11.
 
Loy caught fire in the second half of his final game in the navy and red, tallying seven 3-pointers en route to 28 second-half points. He went 7-of-8 from 3 and 10-of-12 from the floor in 18 minutes in the second half.
 
For the game, Loy totaled a career-high 32 points, ranking seventh all-time in RSU single game history. The seven 3-pointers are second most in RSU single game history.  He added a career-high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Along with points, rebounds and 3s made, Loy had career highs in blocks (two), field goals made, field goals attempted and 3s attempted. He finished at 12-of-16 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 shooting from 3 in 30 minutes. The senior from Wichita, Kan. was only three points from the Heartland Tournament record of 35 set by Dallas Baptist University's Patrick Burke.
 
Fellow senior Baron Smith Jr. nearly had a double-double with 12 points and a career-high nine assists. The total assists ranks fourth all-time in RSU's single game record book.
 
The Hillcats were cold from the field in the first half, shooting only 28.6 percent (8-28) and went 0-for-12 from 3. RSU scored only 17 points in the opening 20 minutes and fell behind 31-17 at halftime.
 
RSU cut the deficit to single digits once in the second half at 48-40 on a Loy triple with 12:16 remaining, but couldn't get any closer in the 78-63 loss. After only 17 points in the first half, the navy and red scored 47 points in the second and tallied a 51.6 (16-31) shooting percentage in the second half and shot 50 percent from 3 (8-16).
 
For the game, the Cats shot 40.7 percent (24-59) from the floor and 28.6 percent (8-28) from 3.
 
LCU was led by Isaac Asrat with 23 points as four Chaps scored in double figures. Marcos Schuster added 15 points.
 
The Chaps finished at 50.9 percent (27-53) from the field, including 62.5 percent (15-24) in the second half as LCU registered 47 second half points.
 
It was the final game for three RSU seniors: Loy, Smith and Don Leak. Smith is a two-time All-Heartland Conference selection. Loy and Leak both started this season at forward spots.
 
The Hillcats finished the season with an 18-11 record and went 9-7 in the Heartland Conference for fourth in the league standings.