PITTSBURG -- Grant Lozoya scored a game-high 26 points to help lead the Pittsburg State University men's basketball team to an 86-78 victory over Northeastern State University in the MIAA opener for both schools Wednesday (Dec. 5).

The Gorillas (6-1, 1-0 MIAA) trailed for just 15 seconds early in the first half before taking the lead, 5-3, on Donovan Franklin's 3-pointer and then never looking back against the RiverHawks (5-3, 0-1 MIAA).

Pitt State overcame a 43 percent shooting performance by connecting on 12 3-pointers in the contest and generating 24 points at the free throw line. The Gorillas outscored NSU, 24-15, at the charity stripe and Pitt State made five more trifectas (12) than the RiverHawks (7).

Lozoya added three assists and two steals to his game-high point total. Franklin added 19 points and a game-high eight rebounds,. Demetrius Levarity (13) and Marcel Cherry (11) also scored in double figures. Lucas Wilson scored two points and matched Franklin's game-high rebounding total with eight himself.

The RiverHawks got a team-leading 18 points from Caleb Smith, while Jahmel Bodrick (15), Tanner Mouse (13), Aaron Givens (12) and D'Angelo Jackson (10) also scored in double figures.