Box score | Season stats

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- After hearing their South Central Regional ranking had improved two spots to #4, the SBU Bearcats took care of business on the road against the Pitt State Gorillas, 83-71. Tristan Steele led the 'Cats with 23 points, one point shy of his career high, coming against Central Missouri earlier this season. This marks the fourth conference game of the year Steele has led in scoring.  Ryan Dougherty tied his career high with 17 points, shooting 4-for-8 from the field, and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. As a team, SBU shot an impressive 22-for-26 (84.6%) from the free throw line.

The win becomes all the more impressive without leading scorer and pre-season All-American Matt Rogers in the lineup. Rogers missed the game after suffering a knee injury in last weekend's game against Missouri Western. After the game, head coach Jeff Guiot commented on the impact of Rogers' absence. “Our team cares about Matt, and Matt was down, but his faith is pulling him through it. Our team is a close group and it is paying off for us. We can pick each other up.”

The 'Cats and Gorillas battled back and forth in the early minutes, with Pitt State holding onto a slim lead. SBU was able to tie the game at 8-8 after Jacob French's layup seven minutes into the first half. The Bearcats were then able to go on a 16-4 run, highlighted by 11 points from Steele. Pitt State would climb back into it at the end of the half closing to within two points at 34-32. SBU would keep a three point lead at 38-35 after trading free throws towards the end of the first half.

SBU outshot the Gorillas, allowing only 44.8% from the field defensively. PSU used a 9-2 offensive rebounding advantage to stay close, however. Steele led SBU with 15 points in the first period, while Stephen Cotton had five boards before half.

SBU took advantage of Gorilla mistakes at the start of the second half; Tomas Brock scored on a breakaway layup after Pitt State threw the ball away. French followed that up with a fast break layup after a Pittsburg score. After Andy Smith's three in the corner cut the Bearcat lead to two, Dougherty answered with a fast-break three in the same spot. The Bearcats took advantage of a Pitt State turnover and Brock's layup gave the 'Cats a seven point advantage.

SBU would match the biggest lead of the first half after Brock's three gave the 'Cats a 67-55 lead with ten minutes to play. The Bearcats would maintain a double digit lead throughout the rest of the second half, going back and forth with the Gorillas from that point forward. SBU would reach a lead as high as 14, four different times in the second half.

“We shot the ball very well. We started to force it inside and turned the ball over, but when we started moving the ball, we got the shots we wanted and hit them,” said Guiot.

C.J. Masters, along with Magana, led the Gorillas with 14 points apiece. Masters also led Pittsburg with nine rebounds.

SBU improves to 18-5, and 9-4 in the MIAA. The Bearcats return home this Saturday, February 6, when they host Truman State in an afternoon matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. SBU will recognize the 2010 SBU Hall of Fame inductees at halftime, including Ernest "Mudo" Hall, the late Roy Fields, Charlie Lane and Sherri Taylor McVay. The inductees will be also honored at the SBU Honors Night ceremony, scheduled for 6:30 p.m.