Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 19, 2015) – Oklahoma Christian's recent trend of improved play continued on Thursday night against Rogers State. But against the red-hot Hillcats, it wasn't quite enough.

OC led early and stayed within striking distance most of the way but eventually fell 89-74 to the Hillcats, who remain tied atop the Heartland Conference standings and now have won 10 of their last 11 games.

OC (5-18, 3-14 Heartland) had four players score in double figures and shot 45.6 percent from the field, but Rogers State (18-7, 12-5) countered with a 53.1-percent shooting and outstanding games from DesJuan Newton (28 points on 5-of-6 3-point shooting) and Frederico Santos (16 points, 12 rebounds).

"We played well," OC coach Dan Hays said. "The final score wasn't indicative of the game. We did a lot of good things. Number one, they're a lot better team than we are. But I do think we made them play their 'A' game to beat us."

Two freshmen had strong performances for the Eagles. Guard Jordan Box, coming off a 22-point outing on Monday in a win at Dallas Baptist (Texas), scored 18 points against Rogers State, while Cameron Peters came off the bench to go 3-of-5 from 3-point range and score a career-high 14 points.

Center John Moon added 17 points and nine rebounds for OC while Eric Randall had 11 points and seven rebounds.

"I'm real pleased with the team," Hays said. "I thought we did a good job of preparing. We might have gotten a little bit tired, because we've shortened our bench a little bit, but that's the way we decided to play it. It didn't work out but I'm pleased with the guys."

OC jumped to a quick 11-3 lead during the first five minutes and led 15-10 after a 17-foot jumper by Box at the 13:02 mark of the first half. But the Hillcats scored the next nine points, taking the lead on a steal and layup by Jordan Huffman, and started to pull away from OC.

Rogers State, which beat the Eagles by 40 points on Jan. 22 in Claremore, eventually pushed the lead to 11 before OC made a run of its own. Down 50-39 with 1:13 left in the half, OC picked up a basket from Box, a 3-pointer from Jordan Rutherford and – right before the buzzer – a 6-foot jumper by Box that made it 50-46.

The Eagles pulled within 54-53 with 16:25 left after a 16-foot jumper by Box and were down only 58-55 after two free throws by Randall with 14:48 left. Rogers State then hit four 3-pointers in the span of two minutes – two by J.C. Hartzler and one each by Donald Moore and Newton – and after a put-back by Matt Lea, the Hillcats led 72-58 with 12:25 left.

OC again closed the gap, pulling within 79-70 with 5:01 left after two more free throws by Randall, but could come no closer.

"They made an adjustment in the second half," Hays said. "They played us pretty straight-up in the post in the first half. The second half they doubled John Moon every time he got it. John did a beautiful job of kicking (the ball) out. We just didn't make enough baskets on the passes coming from the post."

Hartzler finished with 14 points and seven rebounds for the Hillcats.

OC will host a team just one game behind Rogers State in the standings, Arkansas-Fort Smith, on Saturday at 3 p.m. on Senior Day. The Eagles will honor seniors Casey Covalt, Josh Faurot and Randall.

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