KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Miles Branch's inside basket with 1:02 to play -- his only points of the game -- lifted the Pittsburg State University men's basketball team to a 61-60 victory over William Jewell College in the final game of the Bearcats/Gorillas Invitational Friday (Nov. 15) at Municipal Auditorium.

The Gorillas (2-2) led by seven points, 58-51, on R.J. Forney Jr.'s fast break layup with 4:22 to play in the game, but the Cardinals (2-1) rallied to tie the scored at 59-59 on Jordan Jermain's 3-pointer; and WJC took a 60-59 lead when Jermain made one of two free throws with 2:06 to go.

Branch's go-ahead basket came after the Cardinals' Bradley Lightbourne missed a 3-point field goal attempt with 1:27 remaining. Eli Wingert and Jason Thirdkill Jr., each missed potential game winning treys down the stretch for WJC.

Avery Taggart Pitt State with 13 points and eight rebounds. Tanner Mans added 12 points and six rebounds, while Forney Jr. chipped in with 10 points. Darrell Washington just missed a double double with nine points and a team best 10 rebounds. Jordan Frison scored four points and dished out nine assists.

Jermain led all scorers with 18 points and he added a game high 12 rebounds for the Cardinals.

Pitt State will travel to Topeka Tuesday (Nov. 19) for a non-conference match-up against No. 10 ranked Washburn University at Lee Arena.