PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will return hit the road for a pair of MIAA match-ups against Missouri Western State University and Northwest Missouri State University this week.

The Gorillas will meet the Griffons Thursday (Dec. 10) at St. Joseph, Mo. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (CST) at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Pitt State then will face the Bearcats Sunday (Dec. 13) in Maryville, Mo., at 3:30 p.m. That contest originally was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, but was pushed back a day due to Northwest Missouri hosting an NCAA Division II national semifinal football playoff game Saturday.

The Records
Pitt State is 7-1 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play. The Gorillas are one of just four teams with an unblemished conference mark two games into the league slate. Pitt State, which has won five straight games, was tabbed No. 25 in this week's NCAA Division II Media Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA.

The Gorillas opened MIAA play with home victories over Northeastern State University (106-99) on Dec. 2 and the University of Central Oklahoma (74-71) last Saturday (Dec. 5).

Missouri Western is 2-6 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA.  The Griffons have lost four straight games. MWSU dropped a 74-59 road decision to the University of Central Missouri on Dec. 2 and a 79-76 road decision to Southwest Baptist University the last time out (Dec. 5).

Northwest Missouri is 4-2 overall, 2-0 in the MIAA and tied atop the conference standings (with PSU, ESU and  ) going into a Wednesday (Dec. 9) match-up against Missouri Southern State University. The Bearcats have won three straight games since a 1-2 start to the season. NWMSU has opened MIAA play with road wins over SBU (73-50) on Dec. 3 and UCM (72-58) last Saturday (Dec. 5).

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 83-68 (.550) 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.

Thursday's action will be Muff's eightth match-up against MWSU. He has a 6-1 record against the Griffons. Muff is 4-5 against NWMSU, including a pair of wins last year.

Brett Weiberg is in his third season as head coach at MWSU and his 10th year as a collegiate head coach. He has compiled a 163-144 (.531) career record including a 24-39 (.381)  record leading the Griffons.

This will be Weiberg's third meeting with the Gorillas. His is 0-2 vs. Pitt State.

Ben McCollum is in his seventh season as head coach at his alma mater and his seventh year as a collegiate head coach. He has compiled a 118-66 (.641) career record.

This will be his 12th meeting vs. Pitt State. He is 6-5 against the Gorillas.

Series History
Wednesday's action will be 71st all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Griffons in a series that dates back to the 1977 season.

MWSU holds a 37-33 (.529) advantage in the series, including a 22-11 (.687) mark in games played at St. Joseph, Mo.  The Gorillas have posted three straight wins at the MWSU Fieldhouse and six consecutive wins overall in the series.

Last year, Pitt State claimed a 63-61 victory in the only meeting of the season on Jan. 10, 2015, at St. Joseph. The Gorillas won the game on Javis Flynn's jumper with three seconds to play that broke a 61-61 tie. Pitt State led 55-44 with 6:26 remaining and then withstood a late MWSU rally to escape with the victory. Josiah Gustafson (16), Flynn (11) and Lamine Dieng (10) all scored in double figures for the Gorillas.

Saturday's action will be the 125th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bearcats. Pitt State leads the series, 68-56 (.548), but NWMSU holds a lopsided 39-19 advantage in games played at Maryville, Mo., including eight straight wins at Bearcat arena.

Last year, Pitt State twice knocked off NWMSU, the eventual MIAA regular season champion. The Gorillas beat the Bearcats, 69-67, in Pittsburg on Dec. 6, 2014. The two squads then met in the semfinals of the MIAA Postseason Tournament with Pitt State prevailing, 65-58, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., on March 7, 2015.

In the regular season match-up, Gustafson hit the game-winning shot with 7.7 seconds to play. Pitt State led 62-52 with 5:41 remaining before holding on down the stretch.

Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has compiled a 432-698 (.382) record in 1,130 career road games.

The Gorillas have posted a 19-42 (.311) road record in six seasons under Coach Muff, including a 2-1 mark this season; and Pitt State is 106-194 (.353) in 300 road games since joining the MIAA and the NCAA Division II ranks starting in the 1990 season.

Scouting the Gorillas
The Gorillas have four players averaging in double figures early in the season: junior guard Josiah Gustafson (18.4 ppg), senior guard Trey Starks (14.0 ppg), sophomore guard Dakota Jones (11.6 ppg) and senior forward Lamine Dieng (10.1 ppg).

Gustafson (6-6, 180) is averaging a team-leading 18.4 points per game thus far.  The Omaha, Neb., native has coverted 50 of 95 shots (.526) from the field, 19 of 37 3-point field goals (.514) and 28 of 31 free throws (.903) in 33.4 minutes of action per game. He also is averaging a team-leading 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Gustafson ranks sixth in the MIAA in scoring and ninth in field goal percentage. He leads the MIAA in 3-point field goal percentage, ranks ninth in 3-point field goals (2.4 pg). and ranks second in free throw percentage.

Gustafson has made 28 consecutive free throws dating back to the St. Cloud State game on Nov. 14.

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 on Nov. 30, after averaging 21.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in a pair of victories 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 853 points in 66 games, averaging 12.9 points per game.

Starks (6-0, 190) is averaging 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on the year.

The Springfield, Mo., native is shooting 41.6 percent from the field (32-of-77) and he's made 45 of 56 free throw attempts (.804) 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.

Jones is averaging 11.6 points and 2.3 assists per game. The Warrensburg, Mo., native is shooting 49.1 percent from the field (28-of-57), including 51.9 percent from 3-point range (14-of-27). He's also converted 23 of 27 free throws (.852) on the season.

Jones tallied a career-high 23 points vs. Northeastern State on Dec. 2. He also scored 14 points and converted four of five 3-point field goals in the road win against Metro State on Nov. 28. Jones ranks sixth in the MIAA in free throw percentage. He would lead the league in 3-point field goal percentage but does not meet the 2.0 per game minimum of makes to qualify for a ranking.

Dieng is averaging 10.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game on the season, while shooting a team-high 62.1 percent from the field (36-of-58).

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.

Additionally, four Pitt State players are averaging between 4.5 and 9.8 points on the year:  senior guard Javis Flynn (9.8 ppg), sophomore guard Jaxon Holden (8.0 ppg), freshman guard Chris Owens (6.8 ppg) and senior forward Denton Hays (4.5 ppg).

Flynn is averaging 9.8 points and an MIAA-leading 5.4 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 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 five 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 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in 17.3 minutes of action. The Springdale, Ark., native scored 10 points and pulled down a season-high nine rebounds against Metro State on 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 55.0 percent from the field (11-of-20). The Tulsa, Okla., native also is shooting 77.8 percent from the free throw line (14-of-18). He posted a season-high 11 points in the win vs. St. Cloud State on Nov. 14.

As a team, the Gorillas are averaging 83.5 points per game and shooting 51.1 percent from the field (223-of-436). Pitt State also is shooting 40.8 percent from 3-point range (49-of-120) and 74.9 percent from the free throw line (173-of-231). The Gorillas are +6.6 in the rebounding margin department.

Defensively, Pitt State is allowing 77.0 points per game while its opponents are shooting 46.5 percent from the field (204-of-439), 42.6 percent from 3-point range (66-of-155) and 74.3 percent from the free throw line (142-of-191).

Pitt State leads the MIAA in field goal percentage and ranks second in the conference in scoring and rebounding margin.  The Gorillas also rank fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage and assists (14.8 apg); and Pitt State ranks fifth in the MIAA in free throw percentage.

Scouting the Griffons
MWSU has two players averaging in double figures early in the season – junior guards Trey Sampson (13.4 ppg) and Aaron Emmanuel (11.0 ppg) – and four more players scoring eight or more points – senior forward Kevin Thomas (9.1 ppg), junior forward Mataika Koyamainavure (8.5 ppg), sophomore guard Cole Clearman (8.5 ppg) and sophomore forward Currie Byrd (8.1ppg).

Emmanuel leads the team in assists (3.8 apg) and field goal percentage (.467, 28-of-60), while Thomas paces the squad in rebounding (7.1 rpg).

Sampson has made a team-leading 20 3-point field goals, while Clearman has converted 18 triples. Sampson also has knocked down 31 of 35 (.886) free throw attempts on the season.

As a team, MWSU averaging 74.1 points per game and shooting 40.9 percent from the field (199-of-486), 33.3 percent from 3-point range (62-of-186) and 70.7 percent from the free throw line (133-of-188).

Defensively, the Griffons allowing 77.1 points per game while its opponents are shooting 44.5 percent from the field (203-of-456), 36.2 percent from 3-point range (68-of-188) and 67.8 percent from the free throw line (143-of-211).

The Griffons rank last in the MIAA in scoring and field goal percentage; and MWSU ranks 12th in the conference in scoring defense.

Scouting the Bearcats
Northwest Missouri has three players averaging in double figures early in the season – sophomore guard Justin Pitts (18.3 ppg), junior forward D'Vante Mosby (14.5 ppg) and senior guard Conner Crooker (13.3 ppg) – and two more players scoring more than seven points a game – sophomore forward Chris-Ebou Ndow (8.5 ppg) and junior guard Anthony Woods (7.8 ppg).

Mosby leads the Bearcats in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and field goal percentage (.630, 29-of-46), while Pitts leads the team in assists (2.8 apg) and 3-point field goals (17). Crooker is shooting a team-best 45.5 percent from 3-point range (15-of-33).

As a team, NWMSU is averaging 77.7 points per game and shooting 46.4 percent from the field (155-of-334), 37.6 percent from 3-point range (50-of-133) and 69.3 percent from the free throw line (106-of-152).

Defensively, the Bearcats are allowing 64.5 points per game while its opponents are shooting 43.9 percent from the field (141-of-321), 36.1 percent from 3-point range (39-of-108) and 72.5 percent from the free throw line (66-of-91).

The Bearcats are outscoring their opponents by a margin of 6.6 points per game (17.6 to 11.0) at the free throw line.  NWMSU has more made free throws (106) than its opponents have attempted (91).

NWMSU leads the MIAA in scoring defense and fewest turnovers (8.7 pg).

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.

Missouri Western Probable Starters
    F    24    Kevin Thomas, 6-8, 240, Sr., Toronto, Canada
    F    33    Currie Byrd, 6-7, 215, So., Montgomery, Texas
    G    0    Aaron Emmanuel, 6-2, 195, Jr., Toronto, Canada
    G    3    Trey Sampson, 6-1, 175, Jr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    G    5    Wes Mitter, 5-10, 175, Jr., Long Beach, Calif.

Northwest Missouri Probable Starters
    F    23    Chris-Ebou Ndow, 6-6, 211, So., Stavanger, Norway
    F    32    Brett Dougherty, 6-7, 220, So., Omaha, Neb..
    F    33    Zach Schneider, 6-7, 207, Jr., Prairie Village, Kan.
    G    1    Justin Pitts, 5-9, 143, So., Blue Springs, Mo.
    G    24    Conner Crooker, 6-2, 178, Sr., Overland Park, Kan.