JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Pitt State men's basketball team put together a strong second half, but were not able to overcome a 41-33 half-time deficit, as the Gorillas fell 86-82 to Missouri Southern in the regular season finale on Saturday (Feb. 27). 

Trey Starks led all players with 29 points, including 13 from the charity stripe. Creighton Brinker and Dakota Jones each scored 11 and Javis Flynn added 10. Slynn also had six assists and two steals and led the team with six rebounds. 

Taevaunn Prince led Missouri Southern with a double-double, 25 points and 12 rebounds. 

After some early back and forth, Missouri Southern took the lead for good on a three by Austin Wright. with 7:44 to go. Later, back-to-back Lion threes stretched their lead to eight points and that is where it would stay, with Missouri Southern leading 41-33 at the half.

The Lions stretched the lead to 12, 61-49, with 11:43 to go, but Pitt State quickly worked the lead down to single digits again. Pitt State went on a 9-0 run lasting over three minutes to come within three, 67-64, with 6:26 remaining. From then on, the Lions never led by more than seven, but the Gorillas didn't have quite enough to take the lead. Javis Flynn hit a three with seven seconds left to put his team within three, 85-82, but a foul on the other end and one free throw sealed the loss for Pitt State, 86-82.

The Gorillas received the No. 8 seed for the 2016 MIAA Postseason Tournament. Pitt State will host ninth-seeded Lindenwood University Tuesday (Mar. 1) at 7 p.m. at John Lance Arena. The Lions dropped their seventh straight game Saturday, falling 69-67 in overtime to Lincoln University at Jefferson City, Mo. Pitt State defeated Lindenwood, 70-66, in its only previous meeting of the season on Jan. 21 at St. Charles, Mo.