PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will return to the friendly confines of John Lance Arena for a pair of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association match-ups. The Gorillas will play host to Emporia State University Wednesday (Jan. 14) at 7:30 p.m. and Pitt State will entertain Washburn University Saturday (Jan. 17) at 3:30 p.m.

The Records
Pitt State is 8-6 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA heading into Wednesday's match-up against ESU. The Gorillas currently sit in a tie (with MSSU) for fourth place in the MIAA standings, but Pitt State sits just a half-game out of first place in the league  – behind a trio of squads with 5-2 marks (NWMSU, UCO & LWU).

The Gorillas claimed a dramatic 63-61 road win over Missouri Western State University last Saturday (Jan. 10). Senior guard Javis Fynn hit a guarded fall-away jumper as time expired in regulation to give Pitt State the two-point win.

Emporia is 9-7 overall, 2-5 in the MIAA and 12th in the conference standings. The Hornets knocked off No. 17 Central Missouri, 84-78 in overtime, in their last action Saturday (Jan. 10).

Washburn is 9-9 overall, 4-3 in the MIAA and tied for sixth in the conference standings (UCM, UNK). The Ichabods posted a 70-64 road win over Northwest Missouri in their last action on Jan. 10.

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 64-61 (.512) record in his tenure with the Gorillas.  This will be his ninth meeting vs. ESU. Muff is 5-3 vs. the Hornets. He has a 1-7 record vs. Washburn.

Series History
Pitt State and Emporia will meet for the 187th time in a series that dates all the way back to the 1917 season.  The Hornets hold a slim 94-92 edge in the series, but the Gorillas hold a 53-34 advantage in games played in Pittsburg, including four straight wins at John Lance Arena.

Last Meeting (vs. ESU):  The Gorillas claimed an 84-76 victory over the Hornets at John Lance Arena on Feb. 26, 2014. Jake Bullard (24) and Devon Branch (19) combined for 43 points for Pitt State, while Kaleb Wright (23) and Terrence Moore (22) combined for 45 points for Emporia.

The Gorillas and Ichabods will meet for the 177th time in a series that dates back to the 1920 season. Washburn holds a 96-80 advantage in the series, but Pitt State leads 55-26 in games played in Pittsburg.  The Ichabods have posted wins in each of their last five trips to John Lance Arena.

Last Meeting (vs. WU):  Stephon Drane tipped in a missed shot with three seconds to play in regulation to force overtime and the Ichabods pulled out a 92-90 OT victory.  Branch scored a game-high 32 points for the Gorillas, leading all scorers.  WU got 27 points from Kyle Wiggins and 24 from Alex North.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has two players scoring in double figures on the season: sophomore guard Josiah Gustafson (16.1 ppg) and senior guard Devon Branch (15.8 ppg). Junior forward Lamine Dieng is averaging just under double figures on the year (9.1 ppg).

Branch (6-6, 180) is shooting 53.5 percent from the floor, converting 77 of 144 shots on the season. He's also
contributing 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. The Aberdeen, Md., native has led the Gorillas in scoring five times this season, helping the squad to a 4-1 record in those games.

Gustafson (6-6, 190) is shooting 47.6 percent from the field (79 of 166), including 18 of 49 (.367) from 3-point range. The Omaha, Neb., native also has made 49 of 61 (.803) free throw attempts. Gustafson has scored 20 or more points five times this season.

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 9.1 points and a team-leading 5.4 rebounds thus far. Dieng (6-8, 240) had a season-best 18 points and nine rebounds vs. Newman (Dec. 2). He had 12 points and nine rebounds in his Pitt State debut vs. WTAMU (Nov. 26).

Freshman guard Dakota Jones (5-10, 165) contributes 6.7 points per game, while sophomore forward Trevor Gregory (6-7, 235) chips in with 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Junior guard Javis Flynn (5-10, 170) adds 5.9 points and a team-leading 4.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game.  Flynn scored 11 points and hit the game-winning basket as time expired in the Gorillas win over Missouri Western (Jan. 10).

As a team, Pitt State has averaged 70.2 points per game, shooting 48.4 percent from the floor (344 of 711), 38.3 percent from 3-point range (69 of 180) and 71.5 percent from the free throw line (226 of 316).

The opposition has averaged 68.3 points per game and shot 45.3 percent from the field (317 of 700).

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.
    G    5    Devon Branch, 6-6, 180, Sr., Aberdeen, Md.

Scouting the Hornets
ESU has two players scoring in double figures – junior guard Terrence Moore (18.5 ppg) and senior forward Jevon Taylor (11.0 ppg) – and two more players scoring more than seven points a game –  senior guard Jay Temaat (7.8 ppg) and senior forward Micah Swank (7.1 ppg).

Taylor, who has played in a reserve role in 15 of 16 games for the Hornets, is shooting a team-best 53.7 percent from the field (58 of 108), while Moore leads the squad in rebounding (4.1 rpg), assists (2.3 apg) and steals to go along with his team-leading scoring average.

The Hornets are averaging 70.3 points per game and shooting 40.7 percent from the field on the season.

ESU Probable Starters
    F    10    Jay Temaat, 6-4, 170, So., Lenexa, Kan.
    C    12    McWisdom Badejo, 6-10, 255, Jr., Dallas, Texas
    G    1    Perryonte Smith, 5-11, 180, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis.
    G    11    Terrence Moore, 6-2, 170, Jr., Wichita, Kan.
    G    13    Micah Swank, 6-1, 185, Sr., Raytown, Mo.

Scouting the Ichabods
Washburn has two players scoring in double figures – senior guard Kyle Wiggins (13.7 ppg) and senior forward Alex North (12.3 ppg) – and three players scoring more than six points a game – senior guard Algie Key (9.5 ppg), junior forward Christian Ulsaker (6.6 ppg) and junior forward Turon Parker (6.5 ppg).

Key is shooting a team-leading 56.0 percent from the field, while North is pulling down a team-leading 7.1 assists per game. Wiggins has hit a team-high 25 3-pointers on the season.

As a team, Washburn has averaged 71.8 points per game and shot 45.1 percent from the field.

WU Probable Starters
    F    22    Alex North, 6-6, 215, Sr., Topeka, Kan.
    G    3    Algie Key, 6-4, 200, Sr., Decatur, Ga.
    G    4    Andy Wilson, 6-4, 200, So., Abilene, Kan.
    G    11    Kyle Wiggins, 6-3, 195, Sr., Leavenworth, Kan.
    G    15    Kevin House, 5-10, 165, Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.