Basketball ends with MIAA tourney loss
Kathleen Groves
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Sports
The Pitt State men's basketball team had its season cut short last Friday when it suffered a loss in the first round of MIAA post-season tournaments. The Gorillas, ranked No. 7 seed, came head to head with No. 2 seed Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats walked with the victory, with the ending score at 71-42.
"I feel like the season got cut short," said Jeff Ivory, junior forward.
The Gorillas began the second half at 34-19, trailing by just 15 points. However, they were unable to break the lead and were never within 13 points of the Bearcats. Pitt State's season ended there, with a 9-9 conference and 18-10 overall record.
"I'm very disappointed at how it actually turned out, because I was so sure we would get a lot further in the postseason than we did," said Ivory. "Losing in the first round was not a good thing, especially with the talent that we had."
Pitt State began the season with nine consecutive wins in non-conference games. The players faced their first loss in the first conference game against Central Missouri. From there, the Gorillas bounced between wins and losses.
""We had a very up-and-down season. When we first started out, we were really good. Then when the conference games started up, we had a rough patch. But then we were able to get back in it," said Ivory.
Consecutive wins against Missouri Southern and Truman State in the final two weeks of the regular season prepared the Gorillas for the postseason, so not making it past the first round was a team disappointment.
However, Ivory says he hopes they can use that feeling to prepare them for next season.
"I've got a sour taste in my mouth after this year, so the returning players next season will have a chip off their shoulders. Hopefully, that's something we can play with," said Ivory.
"I feel like the season got cut short," said Jeff Ivory, junior forward.
The Gorillas began the second half at 34-19, trailing by just 15 points. However, they were unable to break the lead and were never within 13 points of the Bearcats. Pitt State's season ended there, with a 9-9 conference and 18-10 overall record.
"I'm very disappointed at how it actually turned out, because I was so sure we would get a lot further in the postseason than we did," said Ivory. "Losing in the first round was not a good thing, especially with the talent that we had."
Pitt State began the season with nine consecutive wins in non-conference games. The players faced their first loss in the first conference game against Central Missouri. From there, the Gorillas bounced between wins and losses.
""We had a very up-and-down season. When we first started out, we were really good. Then when the conference games started up, we had a rough patch. But then we were able to get back in it," said Ivory.
Consecutive wins against Missouri Southern and Truman State in the final two weeks of the regular season prepared the Gorillas for the postseason, so not making it past the first round was a team disappointment.
However, Ivory says he hopes they can use that feeling to prepare them for next season.
"I've got a sour taste in my mouth after this year, so the returning players next season will have a chip off their shoulders. Hopefully, that's something we can play with," said Ivory.
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