PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Newman Jets Men's Basketball team took on the Pittsburg State Gorillas in their final contest of the season. After trailing at half time, the Jets would put together a solid second half on their way to ending the Gorillas hopes of making it to the MIAA Tournament and beating them 79-77.
 
The Gorillas would start the game off knocking down back to back three point baskets taking an early 6 point lead. Pittsburg State would stretch their lead up to 8 points, 14-6 with 13:43 left in the opening half. Newman would respond with an 8-2 run to cut the Gorilla lead down to just 2 points. With just over five minutes left in the first half, Pittsburg State would have stretched their lead back up to 8 points, 28-20. Newman would close out the half on a 7-3 run cutting the Pitt State lead to four points heading into halftime, 31-27.
 
Four minutes into the second half, the Gorillas stretched their lead up to 11 points, their largest of the contest. Just a minute and a half later, Newman cut the lead down to 4 points behind 7 points by Ian Lee. Both teams would trade baskets with Newman slowly cutting the Pittsburg State lead down. With 5:52 left in regulation two free throws by Lee would tie the game and give Newman their first lead of the contest 65-64. Both teams would begin trading the lead as they would answer each other's baskets. The Gorillas would get their lead back to 3 points before Angelo Santiago would make a free throw and Branden Bunn would follow it up with a three point basket on the next possession to put Newman back up by one point, 71-70.
 
Both teams would again trade baskets along with the lead. With Newman trailing by 1 point and 15 seconds left on the clock, Joel Boyce would put the Jets up for good with a layup. The Gorillas would miss a corner three on their next possession and Tracy Jones would pull in the rebound and get fouled. Jones would go 1 for 2 from the charity stripe and put Newman up 79-77. Pitt State would miss a last second shot as Newman would hold on for a victory in their final game of the season 79-77 ending Pittsburg States MIAA Tournament hopes.
 
The Jets were led in scoring by Ian Lee with a career high 23 points. Joel Boyce added in 16 points and Branden Bunn added in 14 points in the win. The Gorillas were led by Martin Vogts with 16 points in the contest. Newman shot 26 of 49 for 53 percent from the floor and 8 of 20 for 40 percent from the three point line. Pittsburg State shot 28 of 58 for 48 percent from the floor and 7 of 19 from three for 37 percent.