HAYS, Kan. -- The Pitt State men's basketball team fell to Fort Hays State, 89-78, on Saturday (January 2) at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. The Gorillas move to 7-6 overall and 2-5 in league play. The Tigers improve to 10-2 and 4-2.

Fort Hays State shot .589 from the floor overall, helping them to secure the win. The Gorillas shot .431, including .346 from long range. Pitt State was able to force 19 turnovers and scored 23 points off those turnovers. The Tigers held a 35-28 rebounding advantage over the Gorillas.

Trey Starks led Pitt State with 20 points off the bench. Javis Flynn added 19, including 9-for-11 from the free throw line. Flynn also led the Gorillas with five rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Gustafson added 17 points, including three threes.

Pitt State trailed by nine at the half after being behind by as many as 12 late in the half. The two teams were very evenly matched, the Tigers were just able to string together several small runs and make four more shots to lead 39-30 after the first 20 minutes.

Fort Hays State started the second half with a 6-0 run, but the Gorillas later answered with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to seven, 53-46. The run was capped by a Gustafson three with 13:19 to go in the game.

The Tigers came back and stretched their lead to 11 again at 68-57. Pitt State would take the lead back down to single digits, but Hays came back again. The Gorillas were in the double bonus for the last six minutes of the game and used good free throw shooting to cut the lead to single digits again with just over a minute left. Late free throws by the Tigers gave them the final 11-point, 89-78 win.

Fort Hays State's Jake Stoppel led five Tiger players in double figures with a game-high 24 points.

Pitt State continues its road trip with a 7:30 p.m. game at Nebraska-Kearney on Monday, January 4.