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Game Day Central
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PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men’s basketball team will wrap up a three-game road swing Wednesday (Jan. 16) when the Gorillas head to Joplin, Mo., to face Missouri Southern State University. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (CST) at MSSU’s Legett & Platt Athletic Center.
Following Wednesday’s action, Pitt State will return to the friendly confines of John Lance Arena Saturday (Jan. 19) to host Fort Hays State University at 3:30 p.m. (CST).
The Records
Pitt State enters Wednesday’s action with an 11-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in MIAA action. The Gorillas are 1-2 in their last three games after posting seven consecutive wins between Nov. 24 and Jan. 3.
Pitt State, which sits in a tie for fourth place in the MIAA standings, dropped an 80-73 decision to the University of Central Missouri in its last action Jan. 12. The Gorillas rolled to an 85-63 win over Lincoln University on Jan. 10.
Missouri Southern is 8-5 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA heading into Wednesday’s tilt. The Lions have alternated wins and losses the last five games, posting a 3-2 record over that stretch since Dec. 29.
Fort Hays State is 9-4 overall and 3-2 in MIAA play heading into a Wednesday (Jan. 16) match-up against Southwest Baptist University. The Tigers are looking to halt a two-game slide after dropping a 76-61 decision to Northeastern State and a 70-69 decision to No. 13 Washburn.
The Coaches
Pittsburg State’s Kevin Muff is in his third season leading the Gorillas. Muff (Kansas State, ’86) became the Gorillas’ 14th all-time head coach on Apr. 5, 2010, after spending 12 seasons at Cloud County Community College, where he helped the Thunderbirds to an average of 21 wins in each of the last five seasons.
Muff has a 41-30 (.577) record in his short tenure with the Gorillas. He is 2-2 against MSSU and 0-4 against the Tigers.
Robert Corn (Missouri Southern, ‘78) is in his 24 season coaching his alma mater. Corn has guided MSSU to a 383-289 (.570) record. He is 26-21 vs. Pitt State.
Mark Johnson (Pittsburg State, ‘93) is in his 12th year leading the Fort Hays State program. Johnson holds an 235-102 (.697) record with the Tigers. He is 10-2 all-time against his alma mater.
Series History
Wednesday’s action will mark the 91st all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Lions in a series that dates back to the 1968 season.
Missouri Southern holds a slim 47-43 advantage in the series, including a 30-13 mark in games played at Joplin, Mo. The two schools have split their two-game season series in each of the past five seasons (2008-12).
The match-up with Fort Hays State Saturday will mark the 149th time the schools have met. FHSU holds a 79-69 lead in the series that dates back to the 1917 season. The Tigers have won eight straight in the series dating back to February 7, 2008. PSU leads the series, 46-29, in games played in Pittsburg.
Scouting The Gorillas
Pitt State has three players averaging double figures on the season and three more players contributing more than eight points a game: freshman guard Kaleb Porter, senior guard Courtney Ingram, senior forward JaVon McGee, junior forward A.J. Adams, senior guard Marky Nolen and senior center Rico Pierrevilus.
Porter is averaging a team-leading 15.4 points per game, while Ingram (12.0 ppg) and McGee (11.1 ppg) are scoring in double figures. Adams is contributing just under 10 points per game at 9.4 points per contest. Nolen adds 8.8 points and Pierrevilus chips in with 8.1 points as well.
Porter, a true freshman, is off to a fast start to his collegiate career.
The Tulsa, Okla., native set a new PSU freshman scoring record with 34 points in Pitt State’s win over MIAA rival Lincoln at the Chris Tucker Memorial Classic on Nov. 16. He had 16 points in the season opener vs. Baker on Nov. 13 and he finished his first week of collegiate competition with a 14-point effort in a win over Avila on Nov. 17 and earned MIAA Player of the Week honors for his effort on Nov. 19.
Through 14 games, Porter is shooting .400 (60-150) from the field, .403 (31-77) from 3-point range and .889 (64-72) from the foul line as well as averaging 2.4 assists per game. He ranks 11th in the MIAA in scoring and first in free throw percentage. He also ranks fourth in the league in 3-point field goals (2.2 pg).
Ingram has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 games for the Gorillas. The Tulsa, Okla., native recorded a double-double against the Blue Tigers last week totaling 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. He scored 10 points against UCM.
For the season, Ingram is shooting .487 (55-113) from the field and .723 (47-65) from the free throw line.
McGee contributes 11.1 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game. The Kansas City, Mo., native has averaged 14.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in Pitt State’s last six outings.
McGee, turned in a season-best 25-point effort in the Gorillas’ 84-76 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith in the Las Vegas Challenge on Dec. 18.
For the season, McGee is shooting .463 from the field (57-123). He also is averaging a team-leading 2.6 offensive rebounds per game which ranks him fourth in the MIAA. McGee is currently fifth in the MIAA in rebounding.
Adams has averaged 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game to date. The Jeffersonville, Ind., native is shooting a team-leading .547 (47-86) from the field.
Adams had a key tip-in as time expired that sent the William Jewell game to overtime on Nov. 28. He contributed 12 points and nine rebounds in that contest. He has recorded a pair of double-doubles on the season, most recently with 17 points and 11 rebounds vs. Central Oklahoma.
Nolen averages 8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and a team-leading 2.6 steals per game. The Wichita, Kan., native ranks third in the MIAA in steals.
Senior center Rico Pierrevilus is averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on the season. Against Lincoln Thursday (Jan. 10) he recorded a team-high 18 points and added seven rebounds while coming off the bench.
For the season, Pierrevilus is shooting .450 (36-80) from the field and .795 (35-44) from the free throw line. In the season debut against Baker on Nov. 13. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native scored a game-high 20 points against the Wildcats. He made his first seven shots from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers.
As a team, Pitt State is averaging 77.6 points per game, while limiting its opponents to 70.9 points. The Gorillas are shooting .437 from the field (352-805), but they are limiting their opposition to .415 shooting (348-839).
Pitt State has generated 29 percent of its offense from the free throw line thus far. The Gorillas have converted 318 of 440 free throws (.723), averaging 22.7 points per game from the charity stripe. Pitt State has outscored its opponents by an average of 7.3 points from the foul line thus far.
The Gorillas are third in the MIAA in scoring (77.6 ppg) and rank fourth in free throw percentage (.723). Pitt State also leads the conference in offensive rebounds (14.1 pg) and are currently second in rebounding margin (+6.9 rpg).
Scouting the Lions
Missouri Southern currently has two players averaging more than 12 points per game. Junior guard Marquis Addison leads the team averaging 17.4 points per game, while also pulling down 4.8 rebounds per contest. His 17.4 ppg ranks third in the MIAA. Addison is shooting .461 (76-of-165) from the field. He also leads MSSU and ranks second in the conference with 34 steals. Junior forward John Talbert adds 12.9 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. The 6-5 forward also leads the team and ranks third in the MIAA with 19 blocks on the year. His 2.8 offensive rebounds per game leads the conference.
Sophomore forward Stephen Atkinson adds 9.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest. Addison or Tolbert had led the Lions in scoring every game until Saturday (Jan . 12) when freshman guard Austin Wright came off the bench to score 24 points. Wright hit 9-of-12 shots from the floor, including six of eight 3-point attempts.
MSSU averages 72.3 points per game while surrendering 67.8 ppg. As a team the Lions are shooting .449 (332-739) from the field including .338 (67-198) from 3-point range. Missouri Southern shoots .713 (209-293) from the free throw line.
Scouting the Tigers
FHSU has four players scoring in double figures, led by junior forward Dwayne Brunson. Brunson averages a team-leading 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds rebounds per game. He ranks second in the MIAA in rebounding and first in blocked shots (2.5 pg). Brunson recorded a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s last game. On the year he is shooting .574 (81-141) from the field and .833 (40-48) from the charity stripe.
Senior guards Lance Russell and Ben Congiusta average 13.7 and 13.4 points per game, respectively. Russell also averages 5.2 rebounds per game, while Congiusta is shooting .455 (35-77) from distance. His .455 3-point percentage is second in the MIAA. Junior guard Craig Nicholson is scoring 12.9 points per game and leads the team with 89 assists. His 6.8 assists and 2.4 assist/turnover ratio ranks first in the MIAA. He also leads the Tigers with 28 steals.
As a team, FHSU is averaging 78.7 points per game and shooting 47.1 percent from the field (359-of-763). The Tigers are shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point range (95-of-245) and 72.9 percent from the free throw line (210-of-288).
Probable Starters
Pitt State (11-3, 4-2 MIAA)
F 20 A.J. Adams, 6-6, 210, Jr., Jeffersonville, Ind.
F 44 JaVon McGee, 6-6, 235, Sr., Grandview, Mo.
G 3 Kaleb Porter, 5-11, 170, Fr., Tulsa, Okla.
G 23 Courtney Ingram, 6-3, 205, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.
G 24 Terrell Eaddy, 6-5, 205, Jr., Bronx, N.Y.
Missouri Southern (8-5, 3-2 MIAA)
F 21 Jordan Talbert, 6-5, 200, Jr., Little Rock, Ark.
F 22 Stephen Atkinson, 6-6, 190, So., Benton, Ky.
G 5 R.J. Leverette, 6-0, 165, Fr., Kansas City, Mo.
G 31 Morgan Smith, 5-11, 175, So., Overland Park, Kan.
G 34 Marquis Addison, 6-4, 180, Jr., Olathe, Kan.
Fort Hays State (9-4, 3-2 MIAA)
F 31 Dwayne Brunson, 6-7, 200, Jr., Queens, N.Y.
C 44 Rundell Mauge, 7-0, 270, Sr., Cedros, Trinidad & Tobago
G 1 Lance Russell, 6-5, 195, Sr., Wichita, Kan.
G 3 Craig Nicholson, 5-8, 160, Fr., Wichita, Kan.
G 13 Ben Congiusta, 6-2, 185, Sr., Sydney, Australia
