WARRENSBURG, Mo. — R.J. Lawrence scored a career high 20 points to help lead the Pittsburg State University men's basketball team to a 71-68 victory over the University of Central Missouri Monday (Feb. 7) at the UCM Multipurpose Building.

Lawrence made seven of nine shots from the floor in the game, including a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range, to help spark the Gorillas (6-16, 5-11 MIAA). Cameron Huefner added 17 points and Quentin Hardrict Jr. chipped in with 12 points and seven assists.

Pitt State broke a 48-48 tie on a Huefner 3-pointer with 9:55 to play in the game and the Gorillas built an eight-point cushion, 59-51, with 8:03 to go. UCM (10-10, 7-9 MIAA) got as close as one point of Pitt State on three occasions down the stretch, but the Mules could never pull even or push ahead.

Dejon Waters Jr. made one of two free throws with 25 seconds remaining to give Pitt State a 70-68 cushion and Huefner came away with the rebound on Waters' missed charity shot. Hardrict then made one of two free throws with 11 ticks left for the game's final margin.

UCM's Cameron Hunter missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the game's waning seconds. Hunter and Gaven Pinkley paced the Mules with 21 points apiece.