KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In a nearly deadlocked game, the William Jewell men's basketball team fell 61-60 on Friday night against Pittsburg State at Municipal Auditorium. The Cardinals move to 2-1 on the season with the loss. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both offenses came out cold as the Cardinals trailed 14-6 midway through the opening half. A three from Kanukayi Gudza brought Jewell back within one but the Gorillas followed with a 8-0 run to push their lead to nine. A dunk from Jason Thirdkill, Jr. sparked a 12-4 Cardinal run to get back in it as Jordan Jermain hit a three just before buzzer to send the teams to the locker room knotted at 28. 
• The Cardinals started strong, as Bradley Lightbourne scored eight straight points to open the second half and put Jewell up by seven. Pitt State rallied over the next 15 minutes to retake the lead, 59-53 with under four minutes to play. Jermain scored four points to give the Cardinals the lead, 60-59, with 2:06 to play. The Gorillas' Miles Branch scored with 62 seconds remaining to win as Jewell's final two shots fell short. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jermain led the Cardinals with a double-double of 18 points and tied his career high with 12 rebounds. 
• Lightbourne added 14 points while Thirdkill, Jr. had 13 points and eight boards.
• Eli Wingert chipped in 10 points to put four in the double-figures. 
• Jewell struggled through a 31% shoot percentage and was just 8-for-33 from the three point line. 
• The Cardinals forced 16 turnovers, while committing just five. 

UP NEXT
Jewell returns to the friendly confines of the Mabee Center for the first time this season as they host Emporia State on Tuesday night.