EDMOND, Okla. -- Senior linebacker Spencer Brown returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown with 1:30 to play in the game to seal a 45-31 road victory for Pittsburg State University Thursday (Sept. 8) over the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Gorillas (1-1, 1-1 MIAA), seeking to avoid the school's first 0-2 start to a season since 1993, broke a 31-31 tie on Kiah Kintchen's one-yard run with 1:56 to play in the contest against the Bronchos (0-2, 0-2 MIAA).

Pitt State drove 67 yards on 12 plays on the go-ahead series, devouring just over five minutes of fourth-quarter play clock. Chad Levin's extra point hit the left upright giving the Gorillas a 37-31 advantage.

Four plays later, Brown tipped and intercepted T.J. Eckert's fourth-down pass attempt and returned it for the clinching score.

After allowing 411 yards of total offense to UCO through three periods, the Pitt State defense limited the Bronchos to 50 yards in the final period.

Quarterback Thomas LePage, starting for an injured John Roderique, completed 17 of 27 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He helped Pitt State battle back from an early 14-3 deficit to eventually take a 24-21 lead with 1:12 to play in the first half.

After UCO took a 31-24 lead early in the third quarter, LePage capped a nine-play drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Levi Copelin, who finished the game with six catches for a game-high 114 yards.

Pitt State scored the game's final 21 points.

Lorenzo West led the Gorillas ground gainers with one carry for 30 yards -- an end-around that went for a second quarter touchdown. Punter Carter Anchors also had a 28-yard carry on a fake punt in the first quarter that led to Pitt State's first score -- a 44-yard Levin field goal.

Austin Panko had four catches for 71 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown grab.

Defensively, Brown and Ned Bingaman led the way with nine tackles apiece. Deron Washington added eight stops and an interception. Braxton Early made two stops, including a quarterback sack, and recovered a UCO fumble deep in Pitt State territory in the third quarter.

Eckert rushed for a game-high 110 yards and a touchdown for UCO. He completed 23 of 37 passes for 174 yards with two interceptions.

The Gorillas will return home to host Northeastern State University on Sept. 17 at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.