Two free throws from Skyler Bowlin gave the Lions (16-10, 10-7 MIAA) a 19-17 lead with just under six minutes left in the half. A quick layup from the Gorillas' (17-9, 8-9) Justin McCoy tied the game briefly but two more free throws from Vincent Ateba gave the Lions the lead right back.

A three from PSU's Spencer Magana with 4:35 left gave the Gorillas the lead back at 22-21, but Octavius Hawkins answered with a fast break layup the next time down to push Southern up 23-22 at the final media timeout of the half. A layup from Magana with 2:11 left gave PSU the lead at 27-25 and a put back from Corey Abercrombie, as well as a jumper from Aaron Jackson as time expired gave the Gorillas a 31-27 lead at the break.

A layup from Ateba tied the game at 33 at the 16:59 mark of the second half. A free throw from Ateba gave the Lions the lead back (34-33) on the next trip down, and a three-point play from TJ Britton after a steal from Bowlin at half court made the score 37-33 with 15:36 left.

Back-to-back buckets from Ateba and Hawkins made the score 41-35 at 14:25. A three from PSU's McCoy cut the lead to three on the next possession and the Gorillas immediately called a timeout.

After Pitt cut the Southern lead to just one (53-52), Tyler Ryerson hit a three to go back up four at 56-52 with six minutes to go.

With Southern clinging to a one point lead and under four minutes left, PSU's Keith Windom was whistled for an offensive foul, his fifth, and PSU coach Gene Iba was in turn issued a technical foul, giving the Lions two free throws. Ryerson calmly made both free throws and made the Southern lead 58-55. Two more Ryerson free throws again gave the Lions a three point lead (60-57) with 2:13 left.

A three, however, from PSU's Magana tied the game at 60 with just over a minute remaining and a layup from Ryerson at the minute mark rimmed out with the Gorillas picking up the rebound and calling the quick timeout.

A reach in foul was called on Ateba, putting Abercrombie at the line. The senior hit both shots and gave PSU a two point lead with 48 seconds left. Ateba would be fouled the next trip down the court and made just one freebie, cutting the lead to one (62-61) with just under 30 seconds left. Ryerson fouled Magana the next time down to stop the clock and Magana made both shots, giving PSU a three point lead. Two more free throws for Pitt made the score 66-61 and a three from Webb  with 3.1 seconds cut the Pitt lead to just two (66-64).

Two more free throws from Abercrombie made the final 68-64, PSU.

Ateba led the Lions in scoring with 15 points on 4-7 shooting from the field. He went 7-9 from the free throw line. Ryerson scored 14 and dished out three assists, while Bowlin had 12.

Southern has now lost four games in a row in its first and only losing streak of the season. The Lions are in a three-way tie for third place in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri and Fort Hays. The worst the team can do in the MIAA tournament picture is be the fifth seed.

The Lions will finish up the regular season this Saturday night in St. Joseph with a 7:30 pm game with Missouri Western.