CLAREMORE, Okla. - Third-ranked Oklahoma Baptist won for the first time ever in Claremore Saturday night as the Bison stayed unbeaten with an 86-83 victory over Rogers State at the Claremore Expo.
 

RSU played from behind for most of the night, but refused to quietly. The Hillcats cut the deficit to three in the closing seconds and nearly sent the game into overtime when Lance Sullivan's desperation 3-point attempt clanked off the back of the rim at the buzzer.
 

It took OBU's best shot to take down the Hillcats. The Bison shot 56 percent from the floor and had two players score at least 20 points. Returning All-American Nate Brumfield scored 20 while Wichita State transfer AJ Hawkins poured in 24. The duo knocked down a number of clutch shots down the stretch, but each time the Hillcats seemed to answer.
 

Four RSU players reached double figures, led by junior John Boyd. Boyd finished with 20 points and nine rebounds. Sullivan tallied 18 while Reggie Burnett and Deveric Taylor scored 16 and 13, respectively. The Hillcats outscored OBU, 48-43, in the second half and outrebounded the visitors by seven in the contest.
 

Sullivan's missed three at the end was an indicator of the difference in a tight ball game. RSU hoisted 22 shots from behind the 3-point arc on the night and only knocked down five. The Hillcats have thrived on 3-point shooting all season, but shot just 23 percent against the Bison.
 

RSU controlled the game early on and built a nine-point lead at the midway mark of the first half. OBU answered with a 9-0 run to tie the game and took its first lead on a free throw by Hawkins at the six minute mark. The teams traded the lead seven times before the Bison went on a 14-3 run. Matt Kellogg ripped a trey right before the halftime buzzer to cut OBU's lead to eight at the break.
 

RSU got within three with a 10-0 run early in the second stanza. However, the Bison refused to surrender the lead the rest of the night. OBU maintained a two possession advantage for most of the second half, but left a small opening for the Cats in the final moments. Brumfield toed the line with the Bison in front by three with 13 seconds left. He missed both free throws, giving the Cats a final opportunity to extend the game. Sullivan found daylight in the corner and managed to get off a clean look over a defender, but his bid for the tie drew nothing but iron.
 

Despite their struggles from deep, the Hillcats shot 49 percent from the floor overall. They also made the most of their free throw opportunities by knocking down 18 of 20 from the charity stripe.
 

Rogers State (11-6, 4-5) saw its four-game conference winning streak snapped by the Bison. The Hillcats will have another opportunity to knock off a Top 10 team when they travel to Bethany, Okla., Thursday to face No. 9 Southern Nazarene. Tip-off from the Sawyer Center is slated for 8 p.m. and the game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.