LAS VEGAS, Nev. -
Malek Davis scored a season-high 27 points, but the Pittsburg State Gorillas prevailed in the each team's final game of the High Desert Classic from Desert Oasis High School, 97-87.
In addition to Davis' season-high point total, the Cal Poly Humboldt transfer logged a season-high eight assists in the effort.
Zyon Patterson followed Davis with 14 points while also recording a game-high four blocks.
The Reddies held a higher field-goal percentage than PSU, 50.7 percent (35-for-69) to 48.5 percent (33-for-68), but the Gorillas were able to separate themselves from behind the perimeter, hitting 11-of-24 (45.8%) triples while HSU managed just two threes on 10 tries.
Unlike yesterday's game where defense dictated the early going of the first half, both offenses were clicking with the score reading 16-10 in favor of HSU at the first media timeout. The lead continued to hover around six points for the duration of the period before Pittsburg State knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to one with 6:05 on the clock, 34-33.
A quick four-point spurt from the Reddies allowed them to regain the two-possession advantage before heading into the locker room with the 50-45 halftime lead. Henderson shot 57.9 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, despite being just 1-for-5 from beyond the arc, while the Gorillas knocked down seven of 15 treys.
86 seconds into second-half action, HSU opened its largest lead of the game at 55-47. From there, the red-and-gray scored just two points over the next three and a half minutes as PSU knotted up the score, 57-57. With the help of Davis, Henderson held off the Gorillas until the 13:34 point.
A Pittsburg State layup moved the designated visitors ahead, 63-62, and the Reddies were unable to retake the lead. The game saw five ties the rest of the way, but Gorilla free-throws and timely buckets kept the lead from changing hands as HSU fell, 97-87.
Henderson State (3-6, 2-2 GAC) will enjoy two weeks off before rejoining conference play when Southern Nazarene comes to the Duke Wells Center Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
