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The Gorillas have had a slow start to the season this year, going 12-8 to start, while being 6-4 in conference play. Not a bad start, but just above average. Pitt State continued that trend this past week, winning on Thursday before taking a loss on Saturday.
The Gorillas started with a strong game against the Northeastern State University Riverhawks, cruising to a 93-77 win. Pitt State got off to a hot start offensively, outscoring the Riverhawks 48-31 in the first half. The Gorillas offense continued to work, scoring 45 points in the second half, despite the defense allowing Northeastern State to score 46 points in the second. Pitt State finished with a team shooting percentage of 59.4.
Freshman Mason English led the charge with 27 points, a game high, while also going 11 of 19 from the floor. If the name English sounds familiar to you, that’s because Mason’s older brother Deshaun English was an integral part of the team for the last four years, having just graduated after last season. Fellow freshman Ethan Sage contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots on defense. Sophomore Alijah Curry added 14 points, while redshirt junior Donald Coats rounded out the scoring with 11 points.
The momentum would not carry them into back-to-back wins, unfortunately, as the Gorillas lost a close one to the #17 Arkansas Forth Smith Lions on Saturday. Losing 76-71, Pitt State battled, but fell just short. The Gorillas had a decent 40-31 lead at the half time break, but the Lions would score the first 14 points of the second half to retake the lead and the momentum. Pitt State wasn’t giving up yet, pulling within a point at 72-73 thanks to a pari of sunk free throws by Curry, but Arkansas Fort Smith would cash in some last second free throws to pull away and take the game.
Junior Connor Rogers led Pitt State in scoring with 26 points and a team leading 36 minutes of game time. English contributed 12 points, while Coats would add nine points and eight rebounds. Freshman Landon Short would round out Pitt State’s scorers with eight points.
With the week’s results, Pitt State sits at 12-8, and 6-4 in MIAA conference play. Pitt State will take the court again Thursday, when they travel to Emporia Kansas before making the trip to play Newman University on Saturday. Following this two-game road trip, the Gorillas will be looking at five home games in a row, which they will need to capitalize on if they wish to qualify for the MIAA championship tournament at the beginning of March. The Gorillas only have a month left of regular season basketball this year and will need to kick it up a notch to end the season strong.
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