EDMOND, Okla. — Quentin Hardrict Jr. scored a game high 23 points to lead the Pittsburg State University men's basketball team to a 77-66 season opening victory over the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Nov. 21).
 
Hardrict made six of nine shots from the floor, including three 3-pointers, to help spark the Gorillas (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) to the win over the Bronchos (0-2, 0-2 MIAA).
 
Pitt State broke open a three-point game at halftime by shooting 54.2 percent from the field in the second half (13-24).
 
Ryan Pippins added 15 points for the Gorillas, while Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr also scored in double figures with 13 points. Arthur-Williams and Zach Burch paced the Gorillas with six rebounds apiece.
 
UCO, which shot just 35.4 percent from the field in the game (23-65) got 15 points from Justin Nimmer and 14 from Isaiah Wade.
 
The Gorillas will return to action Tuesday (Nov. 24) when they travel to Wichita, Kan., to take on MIAA rival Newman University.