EMPORIA, Kan. – The Emporia State University men's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack to hold off Pittsburg State University, 81-78, Thursday (Feb. 5) at William L. White Auditorium.

Connor Rogers and Mason English combined for 52 points to pace the Gorillas (12-9, 6-5 MIAA). Rogers scored 23 of his game-high 29 points in the first half, while English tallied 16 of his 23 points in the second half.

Pitt State trailed 78-72 with 3:04 to play in the game, but Rogers hit a 3-pointer at the 2:07 mark to make it a 78-75 game. After ESU's Trey Redd made a driving basket, English countered with a triple to trim the margin to 80-78 with 34 ticks left. Dallas Bear made one of two free throws for the Hornets with 11 seconds to go for an 81-78 margin; and Rogers missed a guarded 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left sealing the ESU win.

Donald Coats chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Gorillas. English had six assists to go with his 23-point scoring production.

Pitt State will look to bounce back with a 3:30 p.m. (CST) road match-up against Newman University at Wichita.