PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team started fast and rode that early momentum to a 109-76 victory over McPherson College Saturday (Nov. 30).
 
The Gorillas (4-3) tied a school record by connecting on 16 3-point field goals in the contest, including making eight of their first nine long-range attempts to build a 46-14 advantage 14 minutes into the game.
 
The visiting Bulldogs battled back by outscoring Pitt State, 20-7, over the final 6:47 of the first half to make it a 51-34 Gorillas advantage at the break. Pitt State reasserted control early in the second half on the strength of 62 percent shooting from the floor.
 
The Gorillas ballooned their margin to 39 points before settling for the 33-point win.
 
Avery Taggart led seven Pitt State players in double figure scoring with 19 points. He added five rebounds and six of the Gorillas 28 assists. Hayden Shanks added a career best 15 points in the contest, while Jordan Frison and Tanner Mans chipped in with 14 apiece. Johannes Kirsipuu (11), Darrell Washington (10) and Evan Jackson (10) also finished in double digits, while Miles Branch added eight points and a game-high nine rebounds.
 
McPherson got 18 points from Jamil Hardaway and 13 points from Aaron Williams Jr.
 
Pitt State will travel to Edmond, Okla., next Wednesday (Dec. 4) to open MIAA play against the University of Central Oklahoma.