EDMOND, Okla. — Pittsburg State men’s basketball opened the season with a win after getting a game-high 23 points from Quentin Hardrict Jr. in a 77-66 win over Central Oklahoma on Saturday.
Hardrict was 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Gorillas (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) over the Bronchos (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) on the road. He was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma were separated by just three points by the break before the Gorillas shot 54.2 percent from the floor in the second half to earn the win. Seven Gorillas finished with at least one assist in the win, but Ike Moore finished with a team-high two assists.
PSU’s Ryan Pippins scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, also knocking down a trio of 3-pointers for the Gorillas. Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. finished in double figures with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Arthur-Williams and Zach Burch each added six rebounds for the Gorillas.
Central Oklahoma shot just 35.4 percent from the field in the game, and was led in scoring by Justin Nimmer, who finished with 15 points. Isaiah Wade added 14 in the loss.
Pittsburg State returns to action Tuesday when the Gorillas travel to Wichita, Kansas, to take on MIAA rival Newman.
PSU WOMEN FALL SHORT IN OPENER
EDMOND, Okla. — The Pittsburg State women’s basketball team was outscored 27-10 in the game-deciding third quarter, as the Gorillas fell 80-50 in the season opener against Central Oklahoma on Saturday at Hamilton Field House.
Second-year standout Kaylee DaMitz scored a team-leading 22 points for the Gorillas (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) in their season debut. Maya Williams, a Carthage product, added nine points and Tristan Gegg finished with seven points.
Pittsburg State shot 23.5 percent from the field in the contest, making 16-of-68 shots from the floor. The Gorillas were just two-of-18 from 3-point range.
UCO (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) got a game-high 26 points from Kelsey Johnson.
The Gorillas return to action Tuesday when they travel to Wichita, Kansas, to take on Newman.
