Shawnee, Okla. -- The Rogers State University Hillcats used a 10-0 spurt late in the second half to rally from eight down and then made four crucial free throws in the final seconds for an 87-83 win over the Mid-America Christian University Evangels in the Sooner Athletic Conference quarterfinals Thursday night (Feb. 28) at the Noble Complex on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla. The Hillcats will now face the Oklahoma City University Stars tomorrow night after OCU upset the second-seeded Oklahoma Baptist University Bison earlier tonight.
With the score knotted at 83-83 following a three from Charlie Shorter and two free throws by Reggie Davis, the Evangels fouled and sent Donald Williams to the line, who sank the two go-ahead free throws with 13 seconds left.
The Evangels then had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a three from Shorter was off the mark and the rebound went out of bounds to the Hillcats.
Williams again stepped to the charity stripe and calmly put it away with two more freebies with four seconds left.
The Evangels built a lead of eight points in the second half as Shorter caught fire and score eight straight for MACU for a 67-59 lead at the 9:56 mark of the second half.
Josh Smith later hit two free throws to help the Evangels maintain a five-point lead of 78-73 when the Hillcats (21-10) went to work.
Alex Ewings scored to start the 10-0 spurt over the next 3:30 that resulted in the Hillcats taking their first lead since the 13:56 point of the second half.
The Evangels (14-12) fell behind by as much as seven in the first half at 20-13, but scored seven straight to pull even and the game was tied 38-38 at the break.
Shorter scored a game-high 25 points, including 18 in the second half to pace the Evangels. Camilo Valencia scored 15 with six assists and Yuri Hager added 11 points. Angelo Lewis secured a team-high seven boards for MACU.
Robinson Odoch Opong came off the bench to score a team-high 23 points to lead four Hillcats in double-figures. Williams scored 20 and Brian Gibson recorded a game-high 10 boards.
The rebounds were even at 40-40, with RSU holding a slim 16-15 edge on the offensive glass.
MACU out-shot the Hillcats 44.1 percent (30-of-68) from the field to 42.9 percent (27-of-63), marking the first time all season the Evangels lost a game when shooting a higher percentage from the floor.
The Evangels are next scheduled to play in the upcoming National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional Tournament as the fourth seed and will face Colorado Christian University in Bartlesville, Okla. next Wednesday (Mar. 6).
MACU will also await its fate to the NAIA National Tournament, with the field of 32 teams also being announced next Wednesday.
