WICHITA - The Newman men's basketball team picked up one of its most dominant wins as an NCAA Div. II institution, crushing MIAA rival Pittsburg State 68-46 Tuesday night inside Fugate Gymnasium. Jaray Mathews paved the way for the Jets, draining four threes on his way to 19 points.

Newman (3-1) took advantage of two early Pittsburg State (3-1) turnovers, and sprinted out to a 7-0 lead by the 18:41 mark. Slowly, but surely, the Gorillas fought back, stringing together a 13-0 run to take an 18-10 by the 10:49 mark of play. That was by far the biggest lead the Gorillas would enjoy in the game. Newman turn on the defensive clamps for the rest of the half, giving up a lay-up to PSU's Henry Rogers. That bucket ended up being the last field goal the Gorillas scored in the first half, as Newman ended the half on a 20-0 run, and took a 32-20 lead into the halftime break.

The Jets didn't let up in the second half, scoring the first eight points of the half, and keeping the Gorillas off the board for nearly four more minutes to take a 40-20. Pitt State scored for the first time in more than 30 real-time minutes at the 16:42 mark of the second half, but the damage had been done. The Jets kept playing their game, taking a 25-point, 53-28 lead by the 11:37 mark, and cruised to the dominating 68-46 win.

Mathews' 19 points and four rebounds led the Jets in both categories. Justin Berry had one of his better nights in a Newman uniform, finishing with 16 points, while Keaton Schultz added 14 points of his own. Newman also forced 23 Gorilla turnovers, while committing just 12 of their own.

The win was Newman's first win over Pittsburg State since the 1986-87 season, when the Jets earned a 91-83 win over the Gorillas in Wichita. The 22-point margin of victory was also the largest margin of victory for either team in the all-time Newman-PSU series.

With the win, Newman improves to 3-1 on the season. They will enjoy the Thanksgiving Break before hitting the road Monday to take on Fort Hays State. Tip-off from FHSU's Butch Gross Coliseum is slated for 7 p.m.