Box Score JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Pitt State Men's Basketball team (2-0) earned an 85-69 win over St. Cloud State (0-2) in an offensive showcase in its final game of the MIAA/NSIC Challenge at Leggett & Platt Arena on Saturday (November 14) afternoon.

The hot shooting Gorillas connected on 63 percent (35-of-55) of their shots from the floor overall and 56 percent (9-of-16) from long range as five players scored in double figures. Josiah Gustafson led all players with 19 points and was just short of a double-double with nine rebounds. He made 8 of 10 shots on the afternoon. Dakota Jones added 16 points as he made three threes in the game. Trey Starks scored 12 and also added three assists and two steals. Denton Hays added 11 and Dakota Jones, 10. Javis Flynn scored only three points, but kept the ball moving with his 10 assists.

The early part of the game was close, but Pitt State jumped out to a 10-point, 26-16 lead on a three-pointer by Creighton Brinker with 8:06 to go in the first half. Four minutes later, a Jaxon Holden three gave the Gorillas their largest lead of the first half, 32-18. St. Cloud State went on a 8-0 run, to narrow the Pitt State lead to six with 1:28 to go in the half, but a Jones three ended the run and put Pitt State up 35-26 at the half.

Pitt State started the second half on a 6-0 run and never let the Huskies within 10 the rest of the game. The largest lead of the game came as Gustafson hit a three to go up by 17, 45-28, with 17:23 to go.

The Gorillas will play two non-conference games next week, beginning with a 7 p.m. tipoff against Newman in Wichita on Tuesday. The team will play its home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m. against William Jewell.