RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. -- Four Pittsburg State men's basketball players scored in double figures as the Gorillas earned a 20-point, 76-56, win over the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys on Wednesday (Nov. 19) evening.

Devon Branch led all-scorers with 18 points on a night that saw the Gorillas shoot just short of 53 percent (27-51) from the floor. Josiah Gustafson and Dakota Jones each added 12 points. It was the first double-digit scoring game of his Gorilla career for Jones. Trevor Gregory chipped in 11 points. Denton Hays was just short of double figures with nine.

Pitt State was tough on the boards, outrebounding Arkansas Tech by seven, 33-26. Branch and Gregory each grabbed eight boards, making up almost half of the Gorillas' rebounds on the night. 

Both teams had trouble scoring early. Neither team hit double digits until Gustafson made a layup to give the Gorillas an 11-8 lead with 12:05 remaining. Shortly after Arkansas Tech hit double digits, but Pitt State went on a 9-0 lead to take its first double digit lead of the game to go up 20-10, capped by a jumper by Branch with 7:48 to go. Pitt State knocked down three consecutive threes, one by Connor Kjer and two by Jones to take a 33-18 lead with 3:59 remaining in the half. The Wonder Boys were able to whittle that lead down to nine, 39-30, at the half.

The Gorillas hit five threes in the first half, while Holding to Arkansas Tech to a 0-for-9 performance from long range.

Arkansas Tech would come only as close as eight in the second half, as PItt State took over the game. Neither team scored from 9:30 until Branch hit a layup with 6:08 to go. Pitt State scored six points, while not allowing the Wonder Boys another point until 3:50 to go in the game. The Gorillas took their largest lead of the game, 21 points, on Kjer free throws with 2:38 remaining.

It was the first win of the young season for the Gorillas, who are now 1-2. The team will take the court again in a week (Wednesday, November 26) against West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas.