PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will make its home debut Tuesday (Dec. 2) when the Gorillas host Newman University in a non-conference match-up at John Lance Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CST).

The Records
Pitt State brings a 2-4 record into Tuesday's action against Newman. The Gorillas posted a 1-2 record last week in Texas. Pitt State ended the week with a 95-83 victory over Texas A&M University-Kingsville last Saturday (Nov. 29) at Stephenville, Texas. The Gorillas dropped a 72-63 decision to West Texas A&M University on Nov. 26 at Canyon, Texas, before falling, 65-59, to No. 8 Tarleton State University on Nov. 28.
 
Newman is 2-1 on the season. The Jets opened the campaign with victories over Emporia State University (86-80) and Washburn University (90-79), before dropping an 82-75 decision to Fort Hays State University in their most recent action on Nov. 25.

Head Coach Kevin Muff
Pittsburg State's Kevin Muff is in his fifth 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.

He has a 58-59 (.496) record in his tenure with the Gorillas.  Muff is 1-2 vs. Newman.

Series History
Tuesday's match-up will be the 25th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Jets. The Gorillas hold a 13-11 advantage in the series. Newman has won the last two meetings, taking an 89-79 decision on Nov. 20, 2012, and an 80-76 decision on Nov. 13, 2013.
 
Last year, Devon Branch scored a game-high 20 points in his PSU debut against NU, before exiting the game in the second half with an injury. Sam Pugh and Jake Bullard added 17 points apiece for the Gorillas, who were outscored 6-1 in the final 3:31 after leading 75-74.

Scouting the Gorillas
The Gorillas have three players scoring in double figures early in the season: sophomore guard Josiah Gustafson (17.5 ppg), senior guard Devon Branch (16.8 ppg) and junior forward Lamine Dieng (10.0 ppg).
 
Gustafson (6-6, 190) is shooting 46.1 percent from the field (35 of 76), including 11 of 22 from 3-point range. The Omaha, Neb., native also has made 24 of 29 (.828) free throw attempts. Gustafson has scored 20 or more points three times this season, including 23 in Pitt State's win vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville the last time out on Nov. 29.
 
Branch (6-6, 180) is shooting 60.9 percent from the floor, converting 39 of 64 shots on the season. He's also contributing 4.2 rebounds and a team-leading 1.7 steals per game.

Dieng made his Pitt State debut against West Texas A&M on Nov. 26. The Thies, Senegal native redshirted in 2013-14 and missed the Gorillas' first three games this season. He has averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds thus far. Dieng (6-8, 240) had a season-best 17 points vs. TAMUK. He had 12 points and nine rebounds in his Pitt State debut vs. WTAMU.
 
Junior guard Jake Bullard (6-6, 190) also is contributing 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. The Cleora, Okla., native had made eight of 13 3-point field goals (.615). Sophomore forward Trevor Gregory (6-7, 235) also chips in with 7.8 points a 4.3 rebounds per game, while junior guard Javin Flynn (5-10, 170) adds 4.3 points and a team-leading 4.8 assists per game.

As a team, Pitt State has averaged 71.7 points per game, shooting 48.7 percent from the floor (151 of 310), 40.6 percent from 3-point range (28 of 69) and 70.4 percent from the free throw line (100 of 142). The opposition has averaged 72.8 points per game and shot 47.1 percent from the field (139 of 295).

Scouting the Opposition
Newman has four players scoring in double figures, led by junior guard Reggie Baker's team-leading 26.3 point scoring average. Baker, who has scored 30 points in each of the last two games, is shooting 50.0 percent from the field (29 of 58) and he's made 12 of 14 free throw attempts. The also has averaged a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game.

Senior forward Jeremy Espinoza is contributing 12.3 points per game, while junior forward James Pegues chips in with 11.23 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Junior guard Cortrael Colbert adds 10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.
 
As a team, Newman has averaged 83.7 points per game, but allowed 80.3 points. The Jets have shot 45.1 percent from the field (82 of 182) and 76.7 percent from the free throw line (66 of 86). NU has averaged six more points per game from the charity stripe that its opposition.

Pitt State Probable Starters
  F   20   Lamine Dieng, 6-8, 240, Jr., Thies, Senegal
  F   32   Trevor Gregory, 6-7, 235, So., Lee's Summit, Mo.
  G    3   Javis Flynn, 5-10, 170, Jr., Watonga, Okla.
  G    4   Josiah Gustafson, 6-6, 190, So., Omaha, Neb.
  F    5   Devon Branch, 6-6, 180, Sr., Aberdeen, Md.  F    5   Jeremy Espinoza, 6-4, Sr., Uvalde, Texas
  F   21   James Pegues, 6-6, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas
  G    2   Ryan McCarthy, 6-2, Sr., Wichita, Kan.
  G   10   Cortrael Colbert, 6-2, Jr., Midwest City, Okla.
  G   15   Reggie Baker, 6-4, Jr., Avon Park, Fla.