PITTSBURG, Kan. --- It proved to be a close contest early on Friday afternoon, but it was Pittsburg State that was able to pull away from Minnesota State in the second stanza as the Gorillas defeated the Mavericks 90-80 in MSU's season opener.

With the loss, the Mavericks fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Gorillas improve to 1-0.

The first half saw a the Mavericks build a quick 13-point lead at 20-7 with 15:42 to go in the half. Six of MSU's first 20 points came courtesy of senior Charlie Brown. The Mavericks held a double-digit lead through most of the first half by but the Gorillas managed to knot up the score at 34-34 with 4:15 to go in the half. PSU would eventually carry a 40-38 lead heading into halftime.

Brown led the Maverick offense with 10 points in the first half, while junior Cole Harper and sophomore Kevin Krieger tallied eight points each. As a team, MSU shot 42.9% from the field in the first half, to go along with a 10-of-12 (.833) showing from the free throw line. 

Donovan Franklin led all scorers in the first half with 14 points, while Grant Lozoya tallied 12 points. As a team, PSU shot 48.4% from the field in the first half.

The second half saw Krieger sink back-to-back three to give the Mavericks a 44-42 lead just over a minute into the second half. The next 10 minutes then saw the Gorillas go on a 28-9 run to go up 70-53 with 9:01 remaining in the game. Minnesota State managed to get back within eight points of the Gorillas on two occasions, but it would get no closer as Pittsburg State closed out the game with a 90-80 win.  

Krieger led the Maverick offense with a career-high 24 points, which included a 7-of-15 showing from the field and a 7-of-9 performance from the line. Brown finished with 12 points and a team-leading eight assists, while Harper finished with eight points and a team-best seven rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 43.3% from the field. It also finished 19-of-24 (.792) from the free throw line. The Mavericks also passed out 11 assists.

Donovan led all scorers with 30 points and nine rebounds, while Lozoya tallied 15 points.

As a team, Pittsburg State outrebounded the Mavericks 38-29 as it shot 53.4% from the field.

Minnesota State continues its road trip on Saturday as it takes on Missouri Southern State in Pittsburg, Kan. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
  
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