Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Trey Starks scored 28 points as the Pittsburg State Gorillas pulled away from Nebraska-Kearney in the second half to post a 77-61 win Saturday evening in Kansas.

Pitt improves to 14-11 (9-10) while UNK (15-9, 11-7) sees a six-game winning streak come to an end.

With four regular season games remaining, the Lopers are tied with Lindenwood for second place in the MIAA standings. UNK hosts the Lions next Saturday afternoon in the home finale of the 2016 season.

Making exactly half of its shots over the first 20 minutes, the Lopers used a late run to lead 35-33 at the break. However, Pitt held UNK in check in the second half, limiting Kearney to five points over the first 10 minutes.

A 7-0 Gorilla run was capped by a layup from sophomore guard Dakota Jones, making it 48-40 with 10:05 to play. At the time, that was the biggest lead for either team.

UNK didn't get closer than four points the rest of the way with Starks scoring nine of his points in the final 2:23. After starting the game 3 of 10 from the field, he made 8 of his next 11 field goals to reach his game-high point total.

"You have to take your hat off to Pitt State. With this being senior night, they came out and played with a lot of toughness in the second half," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "We just did some uncharacteristic things."

Shooting 32% (9 of 28) from the field in the second half, UNK also had 17 turnovers, two off its season-high. The Lopers had gone seven straight games with 10 or fewer turnovers.

Pitt turned those miscues into 18 points. They also shot 55% (16 of 29) after the break and saw two other starters score in double figures.

"It's hard to win on the road when you have that many turnovers. We also didn't hit some open shots and didn't finish around the rim," said Lofton. "Defensively, they really got after us and took us out of stuff we like to do."

Ravenna senior Connor Beranek paced the Lopers, going for 21 points and 11 rebounds. His sixth double double of the season, he was 8 of 17 (1 of 1 threes) from the field.

Next, Iowa sophomore Trey Lansman had 20 points and four boards with five others reaching the scoring column.

UNK hosts the Lincoln Blue Tigers Thursday night.