Nick Tate scored 15 points but Oklahoma Christian fell 71-69 on Thursday night to Rogers State
OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 12, 2012) – Donald Williams scored on a layup with 1.2 seconds left to cap a game-ending 8-0 run by No. 8-ranked Rogers State and lift the Hillcats past Oklahoma Christian 71-69 on Thursday night on Dan Hays Court in the Eagles' Nest.
It was the third straight loss for OC (10-6, 4-5 Sooner Athletic Conference), coming by a combined seven points against two ranked foes (Southern Nazarene and Rogers State) and another (USAO) that is receiving votes in the NAIA poll.
The Eagles led 67-60 with 3:35 left and 69-63 after center Will Reinke – who had 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots – hit two free throws with 2:09 left.
But Rogers State (14-2, 7-2) quickly rallied. Williams hit a 3-pointer with 1:52 left, and after an OC turnover, Kendrell Thompson made another 3-pointer to tie the game with 59 seconds left.
The Eagles couldn't get a shot off on their subsequent possession and the shot-clock violation gave the ball to Rogers State with 21.2 seconds left. OC, which had only three team fouls to that point, used two of them to slow down the Hillcats' final play. But after they inbounded with 11 seconds left, Thompson found Williams open under the basket for an easy lay-in.
Willie Harper narrowly missed giving OC a miracle finish, as his desperation heave from about 70 feet clanged off the right side of the rim.
OC coach Dan Hays took the blame for the loss.
"I think I just didn't get us into the right stuff," Hays said. "Those were good 3s (Rogers State) hit. We just didn't get anything going at the end of the game. That's my fault. I will work on that."
The game was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than eight points. The Hillcats led 38-33 at halftime and twice led by eight in the second half, the last time at 48-40 on a dunk by Justynn Hammond.
The Eagles scored the next seven points to slice into that lead, though, and went ahead 54-53 with 9:16 left as Reinke beat a double-team and scored on a lay-in.
Ross Morrisett and Harper each hit a 3-pointer during an 11-2 OC run that gave the Eagles the 67-60 lead, but Harper's trey with 3:35 left was OC's last basket.
Despite the string of close losses, Hays has faith the Eagles will be able to rebound in time for their game at John Brown (Ark.) on Saturday afternoon.
"We've got to get through to the next day, the next play," Hays said. "These guys will be alright."
Reinke had taken just one shot at halftime but ended up 5-of-5 from the field while recording his fifth double-double of the season and his third in the last four games. Nick Tate also scored 15 points for OC while Harper added 10.
OC shot 44.2 percent from the field (23 of 52), including 45 percent from 3-point range (9 of 20), but the Eagles struggled from the free-throw line for the second straight game, going 14-of-24 (58.3 percent). The Hillcats weren't much better from the line, going 14-of-23 (60.9 percent). Rogers State shot 46.3 percent from the field (46.3 percent).
