Box Score PITTSBURG, Kan. – Mike Balogun turned in a 21-point performance, while Darrick Little scored 16 points off the bench, but the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys basketball team (6-6) was unable to overcome a 61 percent shooting effort in the second half by Pittsburg State (6-4) on Wednesday, falling 73-68 to the Gorillas at John Lance Arena.
 
The Wonder Boys controlled the contest in the first half, pushing out to as much as a seven-point (11-4) lead just five minutes into the game as Jay Murphy drained a midrange jumper. The Gorillas used a 9-2 run to knot the game at 13-13 on a Conner Kjer 3-pointer with 10:13 to play, but again, the Wonder Boys pushed the lead out to as many as seven two times, leading 31—24 with 2:40 to play. The Gorillas closed the half on a 6-0 run, however, and trailed the Wonder Boys by one (31-30) going into the break.
 
The second half was all Gorillas, as Pitt State used a 16-3 run to open the second half and pull ahead by 12 points (46-34) six minutes into the half. The Gorillas led by as many as 17 points (58-41) with 8:15 to play, before the Wonder Boys began their rally, using a trio of free throws by Balogun to cut the Pitt State lead into single digits (69-60) with 2:21 to go.
 
The senior drained three more freebies at the 1:40 mark, and capped his own personal 9-0 run with a 3-pointer with 55 seconds to play to bring the Wonder Boys to within three points (69-66). However, the Wonder Boys would get no closer as the Gorillas were able to hold Tech at arm's length over the final minute.
 
Pitt State shot 61.1 percent from the floor in the second half, en route to a 47.7 percent clip for the contest, outshooting the Wonder Boys, who shot 41.2 percent. Tech held a 31-27 advantage on the rebounding glass, but Pitt State forced 19 Tech turnovers and scored 24 points off those turnovers.
 
The Wonder Boys return to action on Saturday, Jan. 3, facing the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils at Tucker Coliseum. The game begins at 1 p.m., with the game scheduled to be carried live on KWKK-FM (100.9) in Russellville. Live video, audio, and statistics will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.