Denver – The Metropolitan State University of Denver men's basketball team was defeated 72-61 on Saturday night by Pittsburg State at the Auraria Event Center.  The Roadrunners fall to 2-4 on the season while Pittsburg State improves to 5-1 overall.

The Roadrunners were led in scoring by seniors DeShawn Phenix (Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley H.S.) and Tony Dobbinson (Stamford, Conn./Westhill H.S.) with ten points each.  Sophomore Bounama Keita (Saint-Louis, Senegal/Impact Basketball Academy (Fla.)) grabbed six rebounds to lead the team.

MSU Denver jumped out to an early lead in the game outscoring Pittsburg State 10-2 over the first four minutes.  Senior Eric Rayer (Colorado Springs/Coronado H.S.) had four points over that stretch.  The eight point lead would be the largest of the half for the Roadrunners.  Pittsburg State would battle back to tie the game at 23-23 with 2:37 remaining in the half.  Dobbinson would make a layup and Pittsburg State would hit a free throw to close out the half with the Roadrunners leading 25-24.  MSU Denver would hold Pittsburg State to 36.4 percent shooting, going 8-of-22 from the field.

The second half would start with Pittsburg State taking its first lead of the game after a three-point basket by Dakota Jones making the score 29-28.  After a three-point basket by Phenix, the game would be tied again at 33-33.  Pittsburg State would slowly expand its lead over a seven minute stretch to take a 46-37 lead with 7:05 to play.  MSU Denver would manage only two field goals from Dobbinson over that period.  Back-to-back three-point baskets by Josiah Gustafson for Pittsburg State would put the Gorillas up 13 with under a minute to play.

MSU Denver will open conference play at home on Saturday, Dec. 5 against UCCS.  Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Auraria Event Center.