PITTSBURG -- Aaron Nicholson hit a driving basket with 4.8 seconds to lift Fort Hays State University to a 77-75 road win over the Pittsburg State University men's basketball team Thursday (Feb. 7) at John Lance Arena.
Grant Lozoya, who scored a game-high 27 points for the Gorillas (14-8, 7-6 MIAA), knotted the scored at 75-75 with a 3-pointer with 15.2 seconds to play in the game. Following a timeout, the Tigers (14-7, 8-4 MIAA) inbounded the ball to Nicholson who drove the length of the floor for the go-ahead shot.
FHSU led by as many as eight points, 33-25, with 3:43 to play in the first half in the back-and-forth contest, but Pitt State outscored the Tigers 15-2 to close out the half and take a 40-35 lead to the intermission.
The Gorillas pushed their edge to as many as seven points, 53-46, with 13:10 to play in the second half before FHSU scored seven straight to knot it back up ninety seconds later.
Lozoya hit five 3-pointers among his seven made field goals in the game. He also converted eight of 10 free throws as Pitt State outscored FHSU, 16-7, as a team at the charity stripe. Trenton Clayton just missed a double-double for the Gorillas with 12 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. Demetrius Levarity added a season-high 19 points including 17 in the first half.
Brady Werth posted a double-double with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Tigers. Trey O'Neil hit four 3-pointers -- three in the second half -- to finish with 12 points, while Nicholson chipped in with 11.
The Gorillas will seek to halt a four-game losing streak when they return to action Saturday (Feb. 9) against the University of Nebraska-Kearney at 3:30 p.m. at John Lance Arena.
