From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Carlos Taylor hit a go-ahead 3-point goal with 38 seconds remaining to help Pittsburg State rally past Northwest Missouri State 63-61 Wednesday afternoon at John Lance Arena.

The Gorillas (7-5, 2-3 MIAA) trailed by 14 points early in the second half and by five points, 58-53, after Kyle Haake’s jumper with 2:27 left.

But Spencer Magana hit a 3-pointer to lift PSU within 58-56 with two minutes left.

Hunter Henry, who scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, made four free throws during the next minute to help the Bearcats (5-7, 0-5) retain the lead.

Taylor hit one of two charities to pull PSU within 61-59, and after a Bearcat turnover, Taylor hit his 3 to give the Gorillas their first lead since they scored the game’s first basket.

The Gorillas’ David McKinnie made one free throw for a two-point lead with 13 seconds left.

The Bearcats’ Ben Haarman drove to the basket, but his shot was blocked out of bounds by T.J. Stukes with 1.9 seconds left. Haarman then just missed a guarded 35-footer at the buzzer.

Taylor scored 14 of his team-high 19 points in the second half, and Ivan Evans added 11 points for the Gorillas.

PSU women, 73-70

Nicole McCombs and DePrice Taylor combined for 45 points to spark the Gorillas past Northwest Missouri State.

McCombs, hitting 9-of-11 shots from the floor, led all scorers with 23 points, and Taylor contributed 22 on 7-of-14 accuracy from the field and 7-of-9 at the foul line.

The Gorillas (8-3, 4-1) opened a 15-point lead late in the first half before the Bearcats (5-7, 1-4) cut the deficit to 42-34 at halftime.

The Bearcats then scored the first five points of the second half before six straight points by McCombs capped an 11-3 spurt for a 53-42 lead with 14 minutes left.