Junior center Emil Ostafiiciuc had a career-high 17 points on 7-9 shooting from the field and junior guard Patrick Whelan also scored 17 points and added four assists to lead the William Jewell College Men's Basketball team to a dominating 81-57 victory over Pittsburg State on Thursday evening at the Mabee Center.

The win moves the Cardinals to 2-0 on the young season while Pitt State falls to 1-3.   The win was also head coach Larry Holley's 879th career win which ties him for 10th all-time with legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith.

The Cards put together a huge first half run to take a commanding lead in the opening 20 minutes as the Cardinals used a 14-0 run to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 14-3 advantage with 12:39 left before halftime. 

Jewell continued to keep the pressure on the Gorillas as the first half continued and would open up as much as a 25 point lead as the half ended.  Jewell held Pitt State to 16 first half points off 22 percent shooting from the field.   

The Gorillas would open the second half on a run that cut Jewell's lead to 20 only to see the Cardinals go up by 28 with just over 12 minutes to play. 

The Cardinals would continue to dominate as the second half played on and Jewell would easily defeat the Gorillas by 24 points to open the season 2-0. 

Isaiah Hicks was the only Gorilla in double figures with 11 points. 

Jewell's Austin Regier recorded a double double scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. 

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, November 19 when they head to Joplin, Mo., to face Missouri Southern State University at 3:00 p.m.