Box Score The Lindenwood men's basketball team won its first MIAA home game of the new year Saturday night over the visiting Pittsburg State Gorillas 90-82. The game was a contest that saw both teams take commanding leads but would let the opposition back in the game.

The Gorillas took the first swing in the fight and took an 18-11 lead just seven minutes into the game. Lindenwood then took its turn and went on a 27-15 run over a 10 minute span and took a five-point lead.

Pitt State answered quickly tying the game up just two minutes later. The first half ended with the two teams trading the lead back-and-forth three times but the Lions would eventually grasp a small lead. All in all in the first half the teams traded the lead eight times and the game was also tied eight times.

The second half started with the Gorillas throwing the first punch and pushing the lead all the way up to eight. Lindenwood helped the visitors though missing its first six shots of the half. After going down by eight the Lions offense woke up.

Lindenwood sent the next and deciding blow of the game with an 18-3 run which would give the home team a seven-point advantage. It was the final blow that pretty much knocked out the Gorillas as the Lions pushed the lead up to as many as 13 over the final eight minutes of the game.

Darris Smith once again led Lindenwood scoring 28 points which included a 12-for-14 day from the free throw line. Brandon Marquardt came off the bench to score 13 points while Tyler Ressel chipped in with 11. Garrett Reeg recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lions shot 42 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line. Pitt State won the rebounding battle 41-39 including a 16-11 margin on the offensive glass.

This victory improved the Lions record to 7-8 on the year and 2-3 in MIAA play for the season.  Next up for Lindenwood