Mason English struck first for Pittsburg State with a successful three-pointer at the 19:23 mark, assisted by Connor Rogers, putting the visitors ahead 3-0. Sioux Falls answered when Jacoby Mehrman collected an offensive rebound off a missed layup by Bryon Laue and converted a tip-in the paint at 17:48 to make it 3-2.
Brady Nick tied the game at 3-3 by sinking a fastbreak free throw at 17:28. Moments later, Lucas N’Gombo extended Pittsburg State’s advantage to 5-3 with a dunk in the paint, following an assist from English.
Kyle Ingwerson brought Sioux Falls back to level terms at 5-5 with a jumper at 16:47. Rogers then answered for Pittsburg State with a three-pointer at 16:28, pushing the score to 8-5 with an assist from N’Gombo.
Charles Caporaso added a jumper in the paint at 15:58, assisted by Rogers, stretching the lead to 10-5. Following a foul by Gerard Bosch, Caporaso hit a free throw at 15:19 to make it 11-5.
Pittsburg State Extends Lead Despite Sioux Falls Defensive Pressure
Alex Mattes responded for Sioux Falls with a jumper in the paint at 15:04, narrowing the deficit to 11-7. Pittsburg State responded immediately when Corban Dow secured an offensive rebound and converted a tip-in at 14:47, bringing the score to 13-7.
Defensive intensity ramped up as Mattes recorded a steal following a turnover by English at 14:25. After a media timeout at 13:49, Rogers split a pair of free throws to put Pittsburg State ahead 14-7.
N’Gombo added a fastbreak layup in the paint at 13:32, extending the margin to 16-7.
