Pitt State Men Pull Out 57-56 Road Win Over Missouri Western - KOAM TV 7

Pitt State Men Pull Out 57-56 Road Win Over Missouri Western

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Pittsburg State rallied from a second-half deficit to build a 57-54 lead with 1:25 to play then held off Missouri Western for a 57-56 victory Wednesday (Jan. 30) at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Gorillas (13-5, 7-4 MIAA) missed three free throws in the game's final 25 seconds, but Pitt State stiffened on defense down the stretch to hold off the Griffons (8-11, 4-7 MIAA).

Dzenan Mrkaljevic's desperation 3-point heave came up short at the buzzer to allow the Gorillas to escape with the road win.

Rico Pierrevilus led the Gorillas with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a game back-and-fourth battle that featured eight ties and 11 lead changes.

Kaleb Porter added 13 points for Pitt State, while Marky Nolen (12) and Courtney Ingram (11) also scored in double figures for the Gorillas.

Pitt State limited Western to 32.1 percent shooting (17 of 53) in the contest. Cedric Clinkscales led all scorers with 15 points to pace the Griffons.

Pitt State, which has played five of its last six games on the road, will complete its second three-game road swing of the season Saturday (Feb. 2) when the Gorillas travel to Topeka to face Washburn at 7 p.m. (CST) at Lee Arena.