Southern (14-1, 4-1 MIAA) jumped out on top, scoring the game's first points when Chris Scruggs hit a hook shot on the Lions' first possession. PSU (7-6, 2-4 MIAA) led 9-8 at the 16 minute mark, but a quick 5-0 run pushed the Gorilla's lead to six (14-8) with 14:45 in the half. The Pitt State lead reached 11 after a layup from Rodney Grace made the score 34-23 with 4:29 left. The Lions cut the lead to five after two late free-throws from DaRell Crittendon, but a pair of freebies from PSU's Carlos Taylor made the halftime score 45-38.

The Gorillas shot 67 percent from both the field and the three-point line in the half, but hit just 58 percent of their free throws.

Pitt State led by nine, three times in the second half, the last at 53-44, but a 9-0 run by the Lions tied it at 54 12:32 to go on a three from Tony Webb. A layup from Webb then gave the Lions a lead at 58-56 with 11 minutes left.

The Lions led by seven six times in the half, before a dunk from Adams gave Southern an eight point advantage (80-72) with 1:37 to play. A pair of free-throws from Bowlin gave the Lions a ten point lead with just over a minute left. Another dunk from Adams gave the Lions a 12 point lead (88-76) with just under 30 seconds left.

The Lions forced 25 PSU turnovers and scored 31 points off of the miscues. Southern out scored the Gorillas 40-28 in the paint and 39-15 in bench points.

Bowlin led the Lions with 17 points and added five steals and two assists. Crittendon, Ateba and Webb all scored 14 points each with Ateba adding seven rebounds.

PSU shot 59 percent from the field and out rebounded the Lions 36-30, but shot just 62 percent from the free throw line.

The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday, January 7 when they travel to Emporia State to take on the Hornets. Tip off is slated for 7:30 pm.