TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to break open a tight game and propel the Gorillas to a 76-66 victory over pesky Northeastern State University Wednesday (Jan. 28) at the NSU Event Center.
 
The win by the Gorillas (12-7, 8-3 MIAA), coupled with Northwest Missouri State University's 74-61 victory over Lindenwood University, vaulted Pitt State back into a share of the lead in the MIAA standings. The RiverHawks (5-14, 3-9 MIAA) saw their modest two-game winning streak snapped in the loss.
 
Pitt State led 42-37 with 12:06 to play in the game, before Javis Flynn started the Gorillas' 9-0 surge with a driving basket. Connor Kjer hit a 3-pointer to stretch the margin to 10 and Dakota Jones' jumper stretched the lead to a dozen before Trevor Gregory added two free throws to make it a 51-37 advantage with 10:31 to play.
 
The Gorillas increased their margin to 15 points, 54-39, on another driving layup by Flynn at the 9:25 mark.
 
The RiverHawks battled back to within seven points, 65-58, on Trey Mohair's layup with 3:49 to play, but Devon Branch countered with a high arcing bank shot and Gregory made two free throws to get the lead back to double digits.
 
NSU again battled back to within seven points, 71-64, with 1:23 to go, but the Gorillas sealed the win with five free throws in the game's final minute to seal the victory.
 
Flynn scored 15 of his team-leading 17 points in the second half for the Gorillas. Gustafson added 16 points, while Kjer finished with 14 and Branch added 13.
 
Demone Harrison led all scorers with 22 points for the RiverHawks, while Keon Littleton finished with 18 points.
 
The two teams combined to shoot 69 free throws in a game slowed by 52 combined personal fouls. Both squads made 25 free throws – PSU was 25 of 37 while NSU was 25 of 32.
 
The Gorillas will return to action Saturday (Jan. 31) when they play host to the University of Central Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m.