WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Trevin Joseph led five Wayne State College players in double figures as the Wildcats claimed a 95-92 season-opening victory over the Pittsburg State University men's basketball team at the Central Region Challenge Friday (Nov. 9).

Donovan Franklin, who scored a game-high 26 points in the contest, came up short on a potential game-tying 3-pointer just ahead of the final buzzer.

Pitt State (0-1)  back from a double-digit deficit to tie the game, 76-76, only to see WSC (1-0) counter with a 10-1 lead for an 86-77 advantage. The Gorillas battled back to get within two points, 92-90, on a basket by A.J. Walker with 28 seconds remaining, but the Wildcats Jordan Janssen hit a pair of free throws five seconds later to push the margin back to four points.

Trenton Clayton made two free throws for PSU to make it a 94-92 game with 15 seconds to go and Joseph made one of two free throws with seven ticks left for the game's final margin.

Franklin made nine of 16 shots from the floor and eight of 10 field goals to pace the Gorillas. He added a team-leading seven rebounds and five assists in the contest. Clayton added 16 points, while Demetrius Levarity chipped in with 14. Walker also scored in double figures with 12 points.

The Gorillas shot 49.2 percent from the field in the game (31-63) and Pitt State outscored WSC, 22-14, at the foul line in the contest. The Wildcats, who got 19 points from Vance Janssen, finished the game 35 of 60 from the field (.583).

Pitt State will wrap up action in the Central Region Challenge Saturday at 6 p.m. against Harding University.