KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball team battled back from a 14-point halftime deficit Friday afternoon but ultimately fell 84–76 to Pittsburg State in the opening game of the NSIC-MIAA Challenge at Municipal Auditorium. The Cougars outscored the Gorillas 40–34 in the second half and trimmed the deficit to five points in the closing minutes, but Pittsburg State held on to secure the victory.
Kyle Ingwerson led USF with 26 points, while
Jacoby Mehrman added 22 as the Cougars moved to 0–2 on the season.
Game Summary
Sioux Falls finished the afternoon shooting 46.8 percent (29-of-62) from the field, with Ingwerson and Mehrman combining for 48 of the Cougars' 76 points. Ingwerson connected on 10-of-22 attempts, including three three-pointers, while adding five rebounds. Mehrman delivered an efficient performance, scoring 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. Brady Nick contributed nine points, five rebounds and four assists, while Rio Aguirre added seven points on a perfect 2-of-2 performance from beyond the arc.
Pittsburg State countered with 54.7 percent shooting (29-of-53) and a 42–28 advantage in points in the paint. The Gorillas also held a 36–32 rebounding edge and converted 22-of-30 free throws compared to 13-of-20 for Sioux Falls. Connor Rogers and Mason English led Pittsburg State with 20 points apiece, while English added six assists. Despite the loss, the Cougars collected 12 offensive rebounds and converted them into 13 second-chance points while forcing 13 Gorilla turnovers.
How It Happened
First Half
Pittsburg State established its offensive rhythm early, opening the contest with a three-pointer from English before building a 17–7 advantage through the opening seven minutes. The Gorillas found consistent success inside, scoring 24 points in the paint during the opening period while shooting 54.5 percent (18-of-33) from the field. Sioux Falls worked to stay within reach, using contributions from Ingwerson and its bench to cut the deficit to four points at 34–30 with just under six minutes remaining.
The Gorillas responded with a strong closing stretch, outscoring the Cougars 16–6 over the remainder of the half to carry a 50–36 lead into the break. USF shot 43.8 percent (14-of-32) from the floor but connected on just 2-of-9 three-point attempts and 6-of-13 free throws. Ingwerson paced the Cougars with 11 first-half points, while Aguirre provided seven off the bench. Pittsburg State held a 25–15 advantage on the glass and converted seven offensive rebounds into nine second-chance points.
Second Half
Sioux Falls came out of the locker room with renewed energy, opening the second half with an 8–0 run behind Ingwerson, who connected on two three-pointers to cut the deficit to 50–44. Pittsburg State answered with baskets of its own, keeping the Cougars from taking control of the momentum. USF continued to battle offensively, shooting 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field over the final 20 minutes while limiting the Gorillas to 34 second-half points.
Mehrman took over much of the offensive production down the stretch, scoring 17 of his 22 points in the second half. The Cougars gradually chipped away at the deficit, pulling within five at 78–73 following a Mehrman basket with 2:42 remaining. Pittsburg State responded with timely free throws to maintain its advantage, eventually closing out the 84–76 victory. USF finished the half a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line and outrebounded the Gorillas 17–11 over the final period.
Coach's Corner
"Just dug ourselves too big of a hole in the first half against a really good team. I thought we battled and fought well in the second half."
– Head Coach Chris Johnson
Key Coo
- Kyle Ingwerson: Led the Cougars with 26 points on 10-of-22 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, while adding five rebounds.
- Jacoby Mehrman: Finished with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, adding five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.
- Brady Nick: Recorded nine points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal.
- Rio Aguirre: Added seven points and two assists in 14 minutes, connecting on both of his three-point attempts.
- Gerard Bosch: Contributed six points on 3-of-4 shooting, four rebounds and one steal.
- Bryon Laue: Pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, including four offensive boards, while adding two points and one steal.
Key Team Stats
- Second-Half Response: Sioux Falls outscored Pittsburg State 40–34 in the second half, shooting 50 percent from the field.
- Shooting Efficiency: The Cougars finished 29-of-62 (46.8%) from the field, while the Gorillas shot 29-of-53 (54.7%).
- Paint Production: Pittsburg State held a 42–28 advantage in points in the paint.
- Free Throws: The Gorillas converted 22-of-30 attempts from the charity stripe compared to 13-of-20 for Sioux Falls.
- Second Chances: USF collected 12 offensive rebounds, converting them into 13 second-chance points.
- Rebounding Battle: Pittsburg State held a 36–32 advantage overall, but the Cougars outrebounded the Gorillas 17–11 in the second half.
Up Next
The Cougars return to Municipal Auditorium tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, for a 12:00 p.m. matchup against Missouri S&T, closing out their two-game appearance at the NSIC-MIAA Challenge in Kansas City.
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