James Pegues scores 24 points as Newman beats Pittsburg State
Newman coach Mark Potter said senior forward James Pegues tends to get overshadowed by higher-profile teammates like Wichita high school products Jalen Love and Gavin Thurman.
If Tuesday night is any indication, he’s about to get a lot more attention.
Pegues’ 24 points led five Jets in double figures, and Newman raced to a double-figure lead, then weathered a Pittsburg State comeback late in the game for a 98-89 victory at Fugate Gym. Pegues and guard Jarvis Williams were crucial in the victory, as both combined for a perfect 16 for 16 from the free-throw line.
“You’ve got to get to the free-throw line, you’ve got to stay on that tack,” Newman coach Mark Potter said. “We’ve got some guys that can really shoot it. We’ve got a lot of kids that can do a lot of different things and attack in a lot of different ways.”
In addition to handing the Gorillas their first loss of the season, the triumph avenged an 82-66 loss in Pittsburg last year.
“Last year, they smacked us pretty good,” said Pegues, a senior from Fort Worth.
Newman (3-0) made 33 of 39 free throws, aided by Pittsburg State foul trouble in the first half, taking a 47-34 lead at the break. The Jets also were potent from long-range, hitting 11 of 20 three-pointers.
“Three-pointers are definitely our strength,” Pegues said. “We shoot a lot of threes, and they just happen to fall for us.”
But the Gorillas (2-1) took advantage of Newman’s cold shooting early in the second half, and with 3:53 remaining, Pittsburg State was shooting 61 percent from the field. But that marksmanship couldn’t pull it any closer than the final nine-point margin.
Even with the high output, Pegues remained modest.
“I just do the little things,” he said. “I just hang out around the rim, I try to go for loose balls, get steals and assists, and they just eventually add up,” he said. “That’s why I’m so quiet.
“Just keep it simple and efficient.”
That kind of mindset has been beneficial in the Jets’ start. In their first two games, Pegues scored 20 and 17 points. As in those previous games, Newman placed multiple players in double figures. In addition to being perfect on seven free throws, Williams finished with 18 points, Love hit four of Newman’s 11 three-pointers and had 17 points, Contrael Colbert had 15 and Thurman 11.
Newman can savor the victory awhile, as its next game isn’t until Tuesday at Fort Hays State – another team that beat the Jets last season.
“They came here last year and smacked us (82-75),” Pegues said. “It’s like a Newman revenge tour.”
Pittsburg State – Gustafson 3-10 4-4 11, Dieng 9-14 1-3 19, Flynn 3-5 5-7 11, Holden 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 5-10, 0-2 11, Owens 5-11 0-1 13, Starks 6-13 3-9 15, Hays 1-3 1-2 3, Brinker 2-2 0-0 4, Gregory 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 35-72 14-28 89.
Newman – Thurman 3-8 4-5 11, Pegues 7-8 9-9 24, Williams 5-11 7-7 18, Colbert 3-12 8-10 15, Love 5-12 3-4 17, Schieber 1-1 0-0 3, Bryant 1-1 0-2 2, Berry 0-1 0-0 0, Nwosu 2-4 2-2 8, Julian 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-58 33-39 98.
Halftime – Newman 47, Pittsburg State 34. Three-point field goals – Pittsburg State 5-20 (Owens 3-7, Jones 1-4, Gustafson 1-5, Starks 0-4), Newman 11-20 (Love 4-8, Nwosu 2-4, Scheiber 1-1, Colbert 1-1, Pegues 1-1, Thurman 1-1, Williams 1-4). Rebounds – Pittsburg State 48 (Dieng 13), Newman 33 (Thurman 9). Assists – Pittsburg State 16 (Starks 5), Newman 16 (Williams, Colbert, Love 4). Total fouls – Pittsburg State 24, Newman 24. Fouled out – Flynn. Technical foul – Pittsburg State bench.
This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 11:05 PM with the headline "James Pegues scores 24 points as Newman beats Pittsburg State."