Basketball Men Go 1-1 at Pitt State Tourney

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Both games were blowouts, and the USAO men’s basketball team was on both ends of the scoreboard. The Drovers beat Missouri Southern 92-66 on Sunday afternoon, but lost 102-76 to host-team Pittsburg State, Kan., in the Pepsi/The Morning Sun Classic.

With the win and loss in the four-team tournament, USAO moves its record to 3-6 as the Drovers end the non-conference portion of their schedule. The Drovers host Lubbock Christian at 8 p.m. Jan. 6 in their Sooner Athletic Conference opener.

On Sunday, USAO had all five starters in double figures and connected on 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range in the first half, and posted a 92-66 win over Missouri Southern. The Drovers continued on their good shooting in the second half, connecting on 55 percent from the field and holding Missouri Southern to 0-of-4 from 3-point range.

Sophomore Avery Stevenson led USAO with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and grabbed four rebounds. Junior Romeil Perkins finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 from the field, to go along with three rebounds and three assists.

Senior Tony Jimmerson was also 6-of-10 from the field for 12 points and grabbed a team-high five rebounds. Seniors Keith Miller and Wayne Gibson added 11 points each, while Gibson hauled in five rebounds and both dished out a team-high five assists each.

Freshman Kevin Thames finished with nine points, junior Wayne Walls scored six points and junior Fleans Dervishi and freshman Kareem Ligons added two points each to round out USAO’s scoring.

On Saturday, USAO surrendered nearly 80 points in the second half to fall 102-76 to host-team Pittsburg State. The Drovers hit 45 percent from the field in the first half and led 38-33 at halftime, but they cooled off the second to hit just 37 percent.

Four of USAO’s five starters scored in double figures, led by Gibson’s 19 points. Jimmerson finished with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. Senior Keith Miller scored 13 points and three assists. All three seniors fouled out in the game. Perkins was the other Drover in double figures with 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds.