PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will return to the friendly confines of John Lance Arena to open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play with a pair of games this week.
The Gorillas will play host to Northeastern State University Wednesday (Dec. 2) at 7:30 p.m. (CST) and then entertain the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Dec. 5) at 3:30 p.m.

The Records
Pitt State is off to a 5-1 start to the season. The Gorillas have won three straight games after sweeping a pair of road games in Denver, Colo., last week against Regis (80-62) and Metro State (72-61). Pitt State opened the modest winning streak with a 100-97 home win over William Jewell on Nov. 19.

Northeastern State is 1-3 on the young season. The RiverHawks, who are seeking to halt a two-game losing streak, dropped a pair of home games to Arkansas-Fort Smith (97-86) on Nov. 21 and Rogers State (70-65) on Nov. 24.

Central Oklahoma is 4-2 on the season entering a Thursday (Dec. 3) match-up against Missouri Southern at Joplin, Mo. The Bronchos dropped a 79-74 decision to Southern Nazarene in their last outing on Nov. 28. UCO has lost two of its last three games, after opening the season 3-0.

The Coaches
Pittsburg State's Kevin Muff is in his sixth 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 an 81-68 (.544) record in his tenure with the Gorillas.

Muff was named the 2015 MIAA Co-Coach of the Year after leading the Gorillas to a 16-11 regular season record and a tie for third-place in the MIAA standings. Pitt State was picked to finish 10th in the 14-team league in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll after posting an 8-18 (4-15 MIAA) mark the previous season.

He then guided the Gorillas to a perfect 4-0 record in the MIAA Postseason Tournament, helping the Gorillas become the first No. 5 seed to claim the championship. Pitt State earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and finished the 2014-15 campaign with a 20-12 overall record.

Wednesday's action will be Muff's 10th match-up against NSU. He has a 6-3 record against the RiverHawks. Muff is 2-5 against UCO.

Jason Tinsley is in his second season as head coach at NSU and his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. He has compiled an 8-23 (.258) record leading the RiverHawks and a 30-114 (.208) overall record.

Tinsley previously served as head coach at  North Carolina-Pembroke from 2005-08.  He served as head coach of the women's program at Louisiana College from 2010-14.  This will be his fourth meeting vs. Pitt State. He is 0-3 against the Gorillas.

Tom Hankins is in his first season as head coach at UCO and his first year as a collegiate head coach. He has compiled a 4-1 (.800) record leading the Bronchos.

Hankins previously served three years as associate head coach at Southern Illinois-Carbondale.  Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for 15 years at Oral Roberts.

This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.

Series History
Wednesday's action will be 70th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the RiverHawks in a series that dates back to the 1928 season.

Pitt State holds a 47-22 (.681) advantage in the series, including a 32-9 (.780) mark in games played in Pittsburg.  The Gorillas are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings against the RiverHawks in Pittsburg, including five straight wins.

Last year, Pitt State claimed a 76-66 road win at Tahlequah, Okla., on Jan. 28, before posting an 87-73 home win over NSU on Feb. 18. The Gorillas then knocked off the RiverHawks, 69-54, in the first round of the MIAA Postseason Tournament in Pittsburg.

Josiah Gustafson averaged 17.3 points per game for the Gorillas in the three match-ups a year ago, while Trey Starks averaged 15.5 points in the final two meetings (he was not in the lineup for the Jan. 28 meeting).

Saturday's action will be the 31st all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bronchos. UCO leads the series, 17-13 (.567), but Pitt State is 9-4 vs. the Bronchos in games played in Pittsburg.

Last year, the two teams traded home wins with the Gorillas taking a 78-61 victory in Pittsburg on Jan. 31 and the Bronchos claiming an 82-65 win a week later at Edmond, Okla., on Feb. 7.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State has compiled a 384-179 (.682) record in 563 career games played at John Lance Arena (1970-present).

The Gorillas have posted a 204-69 (.747) record on their home floor during the past 21 seasons (1997-2016), including a school record 40 straight home wins between Jan. 10, 1997 and Feb. 22, 1999. Pitt State is 46-21 (.687) at home during the past six seasons under Coach Muff.

All told, the Gorillas have compiled an 828-340 (.709) all-time home record, winning 70.8 percent of their 1,168 home games.

Scouting the Gorillas
The Gorillas have four players averaging in double figures early in the season: junior guard Josiah Gustafson (19.3 ppg), senior guard Trey Starks (12.7 ppg), senior forward Lamine Dieng (10.3 ppg) and sophomore guard Dakota Jones (10.2 ppg).

Gustafson (6-6, 180) is averaging a team-leading 19.3 points per game thus far.  The Omaha, Neb., native has coverted 41 of 77 shots (.532) from the field, 14 of 31 3-point field goals (.452) and 20 of 23 free throws (.870) in 33.8 minutes of action per game. He also is averaging 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Gustafson ranks sixth in the MIAA in scoring, tied for second in the conference in free throw percentage, fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage and ninth in the MIAA in 3-point field goals (2.3 pg).

Gustafson scored a career-high 34 points in the Gorillas 100-97 victory over William Jewell on Nov. 19.  He was named the MIAA Player of the Week Monday (Nov. 30), after averaging 21.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in a pair of victories last week at Denver, Colo., against Regis and Metro State.

Gustafson started all 32 games as a sophomore in 2014-15 in the Pitt State program, averaging 15.5 points per game. He ranked eighth in the MIAA in scoring and fifth in the league in free throw percentage (.838, 124-148).
For his career, Gustafson has scored 822 points in 64 games, averaging 12.8 points per game.

Starks (6-0, 190) is averaging 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on the year.

The Springfield, Mo., native is shooting 40.4 percent from the field (23-of-57) and he's made 27 of 34 free throw attempts (.794) on the season.

He matched his career high with 24 points in the Gorillas' 80-62 road win over Regis on Nov. 27.

Starks averaged 12.3 points in Pitt State's final 12 games in 2014-15, after taking the court for the first time with the Gorillas on Feb. 7.

He scored a season-high 24 points in the finals of the MIAA Tournament against Missouri Southern (Mar. 8) to help the Gorillas claim the tournament title. Starks was named the MIAA Tournament Most Valuable Player, averaging 15.3 points per game in Pitt State's four victories.

Dieng is averaging 10.3 points and a team-leading 5.7 rebounds per game on the season, while shooting a team-high 62.2 percent from the field (28-of-45).

The Thies, Senegal native logged his first career double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds against Newman on Nov. 17. He also scored 18 points in the road win against Regis on Nov. 27.

Jones is averaging 10.2 points and 2.5 assists per game. The Warrensburg, Mo., native tallied a season-high 16 points vs. St. Cloud State on Nov. 14. He also scored 14 points and converted four of five 3-point field goals in the road win against Metro State the last time out (Nov. 28).

Additionally, four Pitt State players are averaging between 4.5 and 8.5 points on the year:  senior guard Javis Flynn (8.5 ppg), sophomore guard Jaxon Holden (8.0 ppg), freshman guard Chris Owens (6.3 ppg) and senior forward Denton Hays (4.5 ppg).

Flynn is averaging 8.5 points and an MIAA-leading 5.8 assists per game. The Watonga, Okla., native scored a career-high 19 points in the Gorillas' win vs. William Jewell (Nov. 19); and he dished out 10 helpers in the win vs. St. Cloud State (Nov. 14).

Flynn led the MIAA in assists and steals last season. He also converted 17 of 45 3-point field goal attempts (.378) on the year.

His 76 steals and his 160 assists both ranked as the second highest single season totals in school history.  Flynn set the Pitt State single game assist record with 12 helpers vs. Emporia State on Jan. 14. He twice made a season-high seven steals, including vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead in the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

Holden (6-1, 185) scored 19 points in his Pitt State debut on Nov. 13 vs. Minnesota State. The Flower Mound, Texas native is averaging 8.0 points on the young season and shooting 57.1 percent from the field (8-of-14). He suffered a concussion five minutes into the Newman game on Nov. 17. He has been sidelined the past three games.

Holden came to Pitt State after one season at Stephen F. Austin University where he played in 17 games for the Lumberjacks as a freshman in 2014-15 and helped SFA to a 29-5 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Owens (6-4, 180) is averaging 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 16.2 minutes of action. The Springdale, Ark., native scored 10 points and pulled down a season-high nine rebounds the last time out against Metro State (Nov. 28). He scored a season-high 15 points against William Jewell (Nov. 19).

Hays (6-7, 225) is contributing 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field (8-of-14). The Tulsa, Okla., native also is shooting 78.6 percent from the free throw line (11-of-14). He posted a season-high 11 points in the win vs. St. Cloud State on Nov. 14.

As a team, the Gorillas are averaging 81.3 points per game and shooting 51.8 percent from the field (171-of-330). Pitt State also is shooting 39.2 percent from 3-point range (40-of-102) and 72.6 percent from the free throw line (106-of-146). The Gorillas are +8.1 in the rebounding margin department.

Defensively, Pitt State is allowing 74.3 points per game while its opponents are shooting 45.8 percent from the field (149-325), 40.8 percent from 3-point range (49-of-120) and 72.3 percent from the free throw line (99-of-137).

Pitt State leads the MIAA in field goal percentage and ranks third in the conference in rebounding margin.  The Gorillas also rank fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage and assists (15.5 apg); and Pitt State ranks fifth in the MIAA in scoring and free throw percentage.

Scouting the RiverHawks
Northeastern State has three players averaging in double figures early in the season – senior guard Trey Mohair (14.0 ppg), senior forward Dakota Caudill (13.3 ppg) and junior guard Mytaa'h Crawford (10.0 ppg) – and four more players scoring between 6.5 and 8.5 points – junior guard KD Moore (8.5 ppg), freshman guards Peyton Pratt (7.5 ppg) and Tanner Mouse (6.8 ppg) and sophomore guard Montre' Williams (6.5 ppg).

Caudill leads the RiverHawks in rebounding (5.5 rpg) and field goal percentage (.550, 22-of-40). Pratt has made a team-leading seven 3-point field goals, while Williams leads the squad in assists (4.5 apg).

As a team, NSU averaging 80.8 points per game and shooting 40.1 percent from the field (111-277), 26.6 percent from 3-point range (29-of-109) and 62.6 percent from the free throw line (72-of-115).

Defensively, the RiverHawks allowing 86.2 points per game while its opponents are shooting 48.3 percent from the field (100-207), 35.8 percent from 3-point range (24-of-67) and 74.7 percent from the free throw line (121-of-162).

NSU's opponents are averaging 30.3 points per game from the free throw line as the RiverHawks have been whistled for an average of 31.8 personal fouls per game.

The RiverHawks rank last in the MIAA in field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and scoring defense; and NSU ranks 13th in the conference in free throw percentage.

Scouting the Bronchos
Central Oklahoma has three players averaging in double figures early in the season – senior guard Cornell Neal (13.5 ppg), senior forward Garen Wright (13.0 ppg) and junior guard Kendahl Amerson (12.3 ppg) – and four more players scoring between 6.2 and 8.7 points – junior guard Trai Jordan (8.7 ppg), freshman guards Josh Holliday (7.8 ppg) and Seth Heckart (7.0 ppg) and sophomore guard Jordan London (6.2 ppg).

Wright leads the Bronchos in rebounding (8.8 rpg), while Neal leads the squad in assists (4.8 apg) and Jordan leads UCO in field goal percentage (.581, 18-31). Amerson has made a team-leading 11 3-pointers, while London has a team-best 3-point field goal percentage (.474, 9-of-19).

As a team, UCO averaging 77.5 points per game and shooting 43.6 percent from the field (163-374), 31.4 percent from 3-point range (37-of-118) and 61.8 percent from the free throw line (102-of-165).

Defensively, the Bronchos allowing 72.7 points per game while its opponents are shooting 41.5 percent from the field (149-359), 36.0 percent from 3-point range (50-of-139) and 67.2 percent from the free throw line (88-of-131).

UCO ranks third in the MIAA in field goal percentage defense and fifth in the league in scoring defense. The Bronchos rank last in the league in free throw percentage.

Pitt State Probable Starters
    F    4    Josiah Gustafson, 6-6, 190, Jr., Omaha, Neb.
    F    20    Lamine Dieng, 6-8, 230, Sr., Thies, Senegal
    G    3    Javis Flynn, 5-10, 170, Sr., Watonga, Okla.
    G    11    Trey Starks, 6-0, 190, Sr., Springfield, Mo.
    G    32    Dakota Jones, 5-11, 175, So., Warrensburg, Mo.

Northeastern State Probable Starters
    F    33    Eric Broadnax, 6-9, 200, Jr., Tullahassee, Okla.
    G    5    Montre' Williams, 5-10, 16, So., Copperas Cove, Texas
    G    10    KD Moore, 6-3, 195, Jr., Paris, Texas
    G    22    Mytaa'h Crawford, 6-4, 195, Jr., Springdale, Ark.
    G    30    Peyton Pratt, 6-0, 175, Fr., Sperry, Okla.

Central Oklahoma Probable Starters
    F    1    Trai Jordan, 6-6, 225, Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla.
    G    5    Cornell Neal, 6-0, 185, Jr., Midwest City, Okla.
    G    14    Jordan London, 6-2, 200, Fr., Fort Gibson, Okla.
    G    20    Jacob Strassle, 6-3, 225, Sr., Mustang, Okla.
    G    32    Kendahl Amerson, 6-3, 200, Jr., Detroit, Mich.