PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY vs Northeastern State (11-7, 6-5 MIAA), Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m. at Central Oklahoma (11-7, 5-6 MIAA), Feb. 1, 3:30 p.m. 2013-14 Gorillas Schedule The Pittsburg State University men’s basketball team will wrap up a three- All Times – Central game home stand against Northeastern State University Wednesday (Jan. 29) before traveling to Edmond, Okla., to face the University of Central Oklahoma OCTOBER Saturday (Feb. 1). 29 at Kansas (exhibition) L, 57-97 Wednesday’s tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (CST) at John Lance Arena, while NOVEMBER Saturday’s action will begin at 3:30 p.m. at UCO’s Hamilton Field House. 1 Kansas State (exhibition) L, 54-75 3 at Newman L, 76-80 THE RECORDS 19 at William Jewell L, 80-93 Pitt State enters the week 6-10 overall and 2-7 in MIAA action. The Gorillas 22-23 PITT STATE CLASSIC 22 BETHANY W, 108-77 dropped a pair of home games last week, falling 82-80 Wednesday (Jan. 22) 23 AVILA W, 96-82 to Nebraska-Kearney and 78-75 to Fort Hays State Saturday (Jan. 25). 29-30 West Texas A&M Thanksgiving Shootout Northeastern State is 11-7 overall and 6-5 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks have 29 vs. Eastern New Mexico W, 86-84 dropped five of their last six contests, including a 75-63 decision at Washburn 30 at West Texas A&M L, 58-70 in the team’s last action Saturday (Jan. 25). DECEMBER Central Oklahoma is 11-7 overall and 5-6 in MIAA play. The Bronchos have 5 at NW Missouri State * L, 59-75 dropped three of their last four games. UCO fell, 92-80, at Emporia State Sunday 18 WEST TEXAS A&M W, 85-79 (Jan. 26). 21 SOUTHWEST BAPTIST * ppd. JANUARY THE COACHES 4 at Lindenwood * L, 82-90 Pittsburg State’s Kevin Muff is in his fourth season leading the Gorillas. Muff 6 at Lincoln * W, 87-72 (Kansas State, ’86) became the Gorillas’ 14th all-time head coach on Apr. 5, 2010, 9 CENTRAL MISSOURI * L, 62-88 after spending 12 seasons at Cloud County Community College, where he helped 11 MISSOURI WESTERN * W, 85-82 15 at Emporia State * L, 75-83 the Thunderbirds to an average of 21 wins in each of the last five seasons.[for 18 at Washburn * L, 80-83 complete biography, see page 3] 22 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY * L, 80-82 He has a 54-47 (.535) record in his short tenure with the Gorillas. This will be his 25 FORT HAYS STATE * L, 75-78 fifth meeting with NSU. He is 2-2 against the RiverHawks. This will be Muff’s fourth 29 NORTHEASTERN STATE * 7:30 p.m. meeting against Central Oklahoma. He is 1-2 vs the Bronchos. FEBRUARY Larry Gipson is in his 17th year as head coach at Northeastern State. Gipson 1 at Central Oklahoma * 3:30 p.m. (Heidelberg College, ‘74) has notched a 275-195 (.585) mark at NSU. He is 4-5 4 SOUTHWEST BAPTIST * 7:30 p.m. vs. Pitt State. 8 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA * 3:30 p.m. 13 at Nebraska-Kearney * 7:30 p.m. Terry Evans is in his 12th year as head coach of Central Oklahoma. Evans, 15 at Fort Hays State * 4 p.m. (Oklahoma, ‘95) has compiled a 234-111 (.678) record while leading the 19 at Northeastern State * 7:30 p.m. Bronchos. He is 2-1 all-time against the Gorillas. 22 at Missouri Southern * 3 p.m. 26 EMPORIA STATE * 7:30 p.m. SERIES HISTORY MARCH Pitt State and Northeastern State will meet for the 65th time Wednesday. PSU 1 WASHBURN * 3:30 p.m. holds a decisive 43-21 advantage in the series, but the two sides have alternated 6-12 MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (Kansas City, Mo.) TBA victories in the last seven meetings. The Gorillas defeated NSU, 88-59, the last time the two teams met on Feb. 16, 2013, in Pittsburg. GORILLAS VS. NORTHEASTERN STATE, CENTRAL OKLAHOMA | JAN. 29, FEB. 1 1 Saturday’s action will mark the 27th all-time meeting between the Gorillas eight assists against the Buffs. Against Fort Hays State Bullard tallied 15 points, and Bronchos. UCO holds a slight 14-12 advantage in the series that dates back five rebounds and three assists. to 1916, but the Gorillas have won six of the last eight contests. Bullard is shooting 52.2 percent from the floor (71-for-136), including 43.2 UCO defeated Pitt State, 92-76, at Edmond the last time the two squads percent from 3-point range (16-for-37). He is averaging a team-leadign 4.9 met on Feb. 23, 2013. rebounds and 4.3 assists per game as well. Pugh (6-0, 180) is averaging 10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a SCOUTING THE GORILLAS team-leading 1.3 steals per game. He leads the MIAA in 3-point percentage Pitt State enters this week’s action with three players averaging in double at 53.4 (39-for-73). figures on the season: junior guard Devon Branch (19.8 ppg), sophomore guard The Branson, Mo., native tallied 22 points against Eastern New Mexico Jake Bullard (14.4 ppg) and senior guard Sam Pugh (10.9 ppg). and 12 points with a career-best 10 dimes against Bethany, recording his Branch, who currently ranks third in the MIAA in scoring, scored 20 points in first career double-double. the Gorillas season opener against Newman on Nov. 13 before exiting the game Pugh ranks 15th in the MIAA in assists and steals. with a knee injury. He missed three games, before returning to the Pitt State Freshman guard Josiah Gustafson is averaging just below double digits lineup Nov. 22. The Aberdeen, Md., native tallied a season-high 31 points against at 9.1 points per game. The Omaha, Neb., native tallied a team-high 16 points Washburn on Jan. 18. He recorded 20 points against both Nebraska-Kearney and and five rebounds against NW Missouri State on Dec. 5. He tallied 13 points Fort Hays State (Jan. 22 & 25). and three rebounds against Emporia State on Jan. 15. On the season, Branch is shooting 52.0 (89-for-171) from the field while also Senior guard Ethan Cordray (5.8 ppg), junior forward Alex Williams ranking second on the team with 4.8 rebounds per contest. (5.6 ppg, and freshman forward Trevor Gregory (5.6 ppg) all chip in more Branch transferred to Pitt State last January from the University of Oregon. He did than five points a game. Gregory is also averaging 4.1 rebounds per contest not play for the Ducks, but he averaged 22 points per game as a sophomore at Cloud and shooting a team-high 63.6 percent from the floor (28-for-44). Cordray County Community College in 2011, leading the Jayhawk Conference in scoring. has converted 25 of 71 3-point field goals (.352). Branch posted 30 points and 16 rebounds in the Gorillas’ exhibition loss to As a team, the Gorillas are shooting 48.3 percent from the field (425-880) Kansas State on Nov. 1. He also scored a game-high 27 points on Oct. 29 in an and 36.8 percent from 3-point range (112-304). Pitt State also is shooting exhibition loss to the University of Kansas. 72.9 percent from the free throw line (312-428). Bullard (6-5, 180) ranks among the MIAA leaders in scoring (20th) and assists The Gorillas’ opponents have converted 44.2 percent of their shots from (seventh, 4.3 apg) on the season. the floor (419-947), including 35.0 percent (130-371) from beyond the arc. The Cleora, Okla., native posted a double-double with 15 points and a career PSU’s opponents are shooting 71.4 percent from the charity stripe (330-462). high 10 assists against Eastern New Mexico (Nov. 29). He just missed posting a triple double against West Texas A&M on Dec. 18 with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 2013-14 Pitt State Numerical Roster NO NAME POS HT WT CL EXP HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL 1 Jake Bullard G 6-5 190 So. 1L Cleora, Okla. / Vinita High School 2 Ethan Cordray G 6-0 185 Sr. 1L Coffeyville, Kan. / Coffeyville Community College 4 Josiah Gustafson G/F 6-6 190 Fr. HS Omaha, Neb. / Millard North High School 5 Devon Branch (duh-VON) G 6-6 180 Jr. TR Aberdeen, Md. / University of Oregon 20 Lamine Dieng (luh-MEEN JANG) F 6-8 230 Jr. TR Thies, Senegal / Vincennes University 21 Sam Pugh G 6-0 180 Jr. 2L Branson, Mo. / Branson High School 23 Alex Williams F 6-7 225 Jr. RS Salina, Kan. / Cloud County Community College 24 Terrell Eaddy (EEE-dee) G/F 6-5 205 Sr. 1L Bronx, N.Y. / Monroe College 32 Trevor Gregory F 6-7 235 Fr. HS Lee’s Summit, Mo. / Lee’s Summit West High School 33 Connor Kjer (CARE) G/F 6-6 205 Jr. TR La Habra, Calif. / St. Edward’s University 34 Denton Hays F 6-7 208 So. 1L Tulsa, Okla. / Jenks High School 35 Cody Gafford F 6-6 205 Jr. TR Olathe, Kan. / Olathe East High School 42 Hunter Leahy F 6-7 260 Fr. HS Kingwood, Texas / Kingwood High School Head Coach: Kevin Muff (Kansas State, 1986) Assistant Coaches: Ryan Stock (Southwest Baptist, 2003), Preston Ingram (Evangel, 2004) 2 GORILLAS VS.