PITTSBURG, KAN. – Cam Martin scored 30 or more points for the third-straight game and moved into sixth-place on the Missouri Southern all-time scoring list, but the Lions couldn’t overcome a hot-shooting Pittsburg State squad, falling 83-67 today inside John Lance Arena.
Southern (4-4, 4-4 MIAA) got 33 points and 11 rebounds from Martin who passed both Skyler Bowlin and Marquis Addison to move into sixth-place all-time on the MSSU scoring list. He now has 1,672 points and 665 rebounds, which put him into the top-five of that career category.
Keryn Collins scored a career-high 14 points in his first start of the season.
Pitt (5-4, 5-4 MIAA) was led in scoring by 26 points from Martin Vogts and 22 points from Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr.
A three-pointer from Martin with 11:54 left in the first half gave the Lions a 17-13 lead, but the Gorillas tied the game up at 17 after a jumper from Zach Burch with 9:45 on the clock. Pitt finished off a 7-0 run to lead 20-19 with 9:17 on the clock, but a pair of free throws from Martin got the Lions within two (26-24) with 6:15 left on the clock. Pitt would take a 40-32 lead into the locker room at the break.
The Gorillas led 51-36 with 14:12 remaining on the clock, but a jumper from Kyle Younge stopped a run and got the Lions within 13 (51-38). Lawson Jenkins made both ends of a free throw attempt to cap a 6-0 run for the Lions and get Southern within eight 65-57 with 7:38 to go. That was as close as the Lions got.
Southern shot 41 percent from the field in the game and had a 20-14 advantage in points in the paint.
Southern will be back in action on January 14 as the Lions travel to Washburn. Tip off from Lee Arena is set for 7:30 pm.
