Eric Randall hit the tie-breaking basket for OC with 42.5 seconds left as the Eagles beat No. 10-ranked Rogers State 83-77.
By Murray Evans
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (March 1, 2012) – Just like the first two meetings of the season between the teams, the Oklahoma Christian-Rogers State game Thursday in the first round of the Sooner Athletic Conference basketball tournament went down to the final seconds.
This time, it was the Eagles who made the critical plays and beat No. 10-ranked Rogers State 83-77 at Bill George Arena. OC (18-12) advanced to Friday's 6 p.m. semifinal game against the tournament host, John Brown (Ark.). John Brown beat Lubbock Christian (Texas) 62-49 in another first-round game. John Brown and OC split their regular-season meetings, each winning on the other's home court.
Kendre Talley scored 16 of his 18 points for OC in the second half, giving the seventh-seeded Eagles an effective offensive option as second-seeded Rogers State (22-8) often double- and triple-teamed All-SAC first-team center Will Reinke, who also scored 18 points. Eric Randall added 14 points for the Eagles, who committed only six turnovers.
Talley "created everything that second half," Reinke said. "He really controlled the ball well and didn't turn it over. He controlled the game. He was aggressive with it and created for others, too. "
In a game that featured 21 lead changes and 17 ties, OC took the lead for good at 79-77 when Randall spun on the baseline and coaxed a five-footer into the basket. Donald Williams missed a 3-point attempt at the other end before OC's Brandon Troutman swished two free throws with 17.8 seconds left.
Rogers State committed an over-and-back violation on its next possession and Reinke hit two free throws for the Eagles with 7.4 seconds left to seal the win. The Hillcats, who beat OC by two and three points during the regular season – both times on a basket in the final seconds – will receive an at-large bid to the NAIA Division I tournament.
"What a terrific game," OC coach Dan Hays said. "Our kids handled the adversity … and we just never missed a beat. Rogers is very, very talented. It was a good heavyweight fight and we got the TKO in the 15th (round). I'm very proud of our guys. But in the scope of things, it means nothing winning one game. We've got to take care of business. We've got to go to number two."
Rogers State took the biggest lead of the game for either team at 48-40 on a basket by Maurice Rutherford with 16:38 left. The Eagles used a 14-4 run to go ahead 54-52 on a hook shot by Reinke, but consecutive fallaway 3-pointers by Williams put the Hillcats back up, 58-54.
Back and forth it went. Another hook shot by Reinke with 2:03 left gave OC a 75-74 lead and Devan White's 15-foot jumper – off an inbounds pass from Talley as the shot clock expired – extended the lead to three points with 1:10 left. Thompson banked in an NBA-range 3-pointer with 1:02 left while being fouled by White, but missed the free throw.
OC shot a sizzling 66.7 percent (22 of 33) in the second half and 51.4 percent (33 of 61) for the game. Talley was a big reason for both, finishing 8-of-16 from the field after going 0-for-5 in the first half. Most of his baskets came on layups on penetration plays, as the Hillcats focused on the Eagles' inside players.
"When they doubled down or tripled down, Kendre did a good job of finding gaps," Reinke said. "He had a huge second half and did what a point guard is supposed to do."
Williams scored 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting for Rogers State, while Thompson had 21 points. The two combined to go 5-of-10 from 3-point range. The Hillcats went 27-of-41 from the free-throw line, failing to take full advantage of a huge disparity. OC attempted 21 free throws and made 14.
Rogers State shot 47.8 percent from the field (22 of 46).
