Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Nick Wayman turned in a 14-point performance, burying a pair of 3-pointers, Clarence Willard added a 12-point effort, and Michael Perry came off the bench to score eight, but the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys basketball team could not overcome the hot shooting of the Pittsburg State Gorillas, falling 76-56 on Wednesday night at Tucker Coliseum.

The Wonder Boys looked to establish the tempo in the opening minutes of the game, as Jay Murphy fed Wayman on an alley-oop slam just 12 seconds into the contest. After Wayman picked up a steal of the inbounds pass, he returned the favor to Murphy, who hit a layup to put the Wonder Boys ahead 4-0 just 25 seconds into the contest.

It would be the last field goal for the Wonder Boys for ten minutes, as the Wonder Boys did not find the basket again until the 9:12 mark on a layup by Willard.

Despite that, the Gorillas were not able to create much separation, as the Willard layup cut Pitt State's lead to just one (11-10).

However, Pitt State used a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to push its lead into double digits, leading 20-10 with 7:48 to go in the half. Another bucket by Willard and a layup by Perry cut the Pitt State lead to six, but the Gorillas would extend their lead to as many as 15 (33-18) after a Dakota Jones 3-pointer with 3:43 to go until halftime.

Tech cut the deficit to nine points (39-30) going into halftime after Willard buried a jumper with 47 seconds remaining in the half.

Pitt's lead fluctuated between eight and 12 points in the opening eight minutes of the second half. A layup by Wayman pulled Tech to within 50-42 with 12:42 to go, but the Gorillas were able to create separation, pushing their lead to as many as 18 (65-47) with 5:01 remaining.

After the Gorillas reached a 20-point margin, the Wonder Boys were able to cut the deficit to 15 but were able to get no closer as Pitt held on for the win.

Pitt State shot 52.9 percent from the floor to the Wonder Boys' 42.9 percent, and won the rebounding battle 33-27. The Wonder Boys were held to just 16.7 percent shooting from 3-point range, connecting on four of 24 shots.

Tech returns to action this Saturday, traveling to San Angelo, Texas for a matchup with Angelo State. Tip-off from the Junell Center is set for 3 p.m.