PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team started fast, building a 16-point lead 10 minutes into the game. The Gorillas rode that early momentum to a 78-61 victory over the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Jan. 31) at John Lance Arena.

Josiah Gustafson scored a game-high 25 points, including 14 in the first half to spark the Gorillas (13-7, 9-3 MIAA), who maintained their portion of the four-way tie at the top of the MIAA standings they came into the day with. The Bronchos fell to 13-8 and 6-6 in the MIAA.

Dakota Jones added 15 points for Pitt State, which shot 47 percent from the field (24 of 51). Devon Branch (13) and Trevor Gregory (10) also finished in double figures.

The Gorillas outscored the Bronchos, 28-14, at the foul line in a game that featured 43 combined personal fouls. Pitt State made 28 of 32 charity shots in the contest.

Gustafson, who was eight of 14 from the field, added a game-high eight rebounds.

UCO got 14 points off the bench from Jacob Strassle. The Bronchos made 21 of 49 shots in the game, a 42.9 percentage.

The two teams will face one another again next Saturday (Feb. 7) in Edmond, Okla. The Gorillas are idle until that game, while UCO hosts Northeastern State University on Feb. 5 before entertaining Pitt State.