KEARNEY, Neb. -- The Pitt State men's basketball team (10-7, 6-3 MIAA) lost a tough physical battle, 68-64, to Nebraska-Kearney (11-5, 7-3 MIAA) on the road Thursday (Jan. 22) evening. 

Despite trailing by 10 with just under three minutes left, the Gorillas were able to mount a late comeback with a 7-0 run and trailed by just three with 19 seconds left. The final two PItt State three-point attempts fell short and the Lopers were able to make a free throw to get to the final 68-64 score. 

Devon Branch led the Gorillas with 22 points and three steals. Josiah Gustafson added 13 points, as he was 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Lamine Dieng was just short of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Javis Flynn had six assists. 

The Lopers Connor Beranek led all scorers with 25 points. Ethan Brozek put together a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Ty Danielson and Isaiah McKay each scored 10.

There were three ties and four lead changes in the first half. A Connor Kjer three with 11:54 to go in the first half gave the Gorillas a 14-13 lead. They were able to hold onto that lead until a Ty Danielson three gave the Lopers the lead back, 25-24. A 16-2 Loper .run resulted in a 10-point deficit for the Gorillas, 36-26, with seven seconds to go. Devon Branch hit a running jumper from just infront of half court as time expired to cut the lead to 36-29 at the half. 

UNK built another double digit lead, 48-37, with 13:39 to go. Pitt State was not going to lay down and came back, riding a 9-1 run to come within three, 49-46. The momentum looked to be swinging the Gorillas way, but two missed shots and a technical foul halted the swing. The Lopers then went on a 10-1 run to take the lead  back to double digits, and the Lopers largest lead of the game, 59-47. While Pitt State kept fighting, they just were not able to fully overcome that last Loper run.

The team continues their road trip, heading to Hays, Kan. to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 24).