KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgGorillas Snap Streak With 72-61 Victory Over Blue Tigers

Gorillas Snap Streak With 72-61 Victory Over Blue Tigers

PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State (13-11, 9-8) used an impressive second-half effort to pull away from Lincoln (3-19, 3-13) on Saturday (Feb. 11), snapping a four-game losing streak with a 72-61 victory over the Blue Tigers at John Lance Arena.

Eric Ray led three Pitt State players in double figures with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, 16 of Ray's points came in the second half.

JaVon McGee turned in 16-point performance while coming off the bench and fellow forward Rico Pierrevilus chipped in with 13, 11 of which came in the first half.

The Gorillas led 30-20 as the teams headed into halftime, using a late surge to gain a little breathing room before the break.

Pitt State led by double figures for most of the second half with their biggest lead of 16 coming with 3:54 left in the ball game. Both sides found their shooting touch in the second half as Lincoln shot .516 (16-31) and Pitt State matched them shooting .577 (15-26) from the field.

James Edmond led the balanced LU scoring attack with 12 points off the bench. Jimmy Payton, Clifton Fleming, and Cedric Ridle all had 10 apiece.

For the game, PSU shot .481 (25-52) from the field, .429 (6-14) from three-point territory and .727 (16-22) from the charity stripe. The Blue Tigers out-rebounded the Gorillas, 33-29, but Pitt State was able to force Lincoln into 21 turnovers.

The Gorillas will return to John Lance Arena Wednesday (Feb. 15) for a 7:30 (CST) tip-off against Emporia State.