PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will make its 2018-19 home debut Saturday (Nov. 17) when the Gorillas host the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith at 3 p.m. (CST) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.
On Monday (Nov. 19), Pitt State will travel to Kansas City, Mo., to take on Maryville University in the MIAA Showcase at Municipal Auditorium at 6 p.m. The Gorillas will meet the Saints in game three of a four-game schedule that day.
Pitt State action both both days can be heard on ESPN 100.7 FM radio, online at espn1007.com/go or through the ESPN 100.7 or KSHQ app for phones or mobile devices.
The Records
Pitt State brings a 1-1 record into Saturday's action. The Gorillas split a pair of games at the Central Region Tipoff Challenge Nov. 9-10 at Warrensburg, Mo. Pitt State dropped a hard-fought 95-92 decision to Wayne State College last Friday, before bouncing back with a 99-76 victory over Harding University the next night.
UAFS is 2-1 on the season. The Lions scored a 90-59 victory over Hendrix College in their most recent action Tuesday (Nov. 13). UAFS split a pair of games in its opening weekend of action, falling to Colorado State University-Pueblo, 90-83, before bouncing back to defeat Midwestern State University, 64-63.
Maryville is 3-0 heading into Monday's match-up against the Gorillas. The Saints notched a 78-47 win over Hannibal-LaGrange University in their most recent action Tuesday (Nov. 13).
In addition to the Pitt State-Maryville game, Lincoln will meet Missouri S&T at 2 p.m. Monday; Central Missouri will meet Sioux Falls (S.D.) at 4 p.m.; and, Northwest Missouri will face Illinois-Springfield at 8 p.m.
Head Coach Kim Anderson
Pittsburg State's Kim Anderson is in his second season leading the Gorillas. He compiled a 17-13 record in his first season at Pitt State and has an 18-14 mark leading the Gorillas.
Anderson (Missouri, '79) became the Gorillas' 15th all-time head coach on Apr. 10, 2017, after coaching the previous three seasons at his alma mater – the University of Missouri.
He has a 319-176 (.644) record in 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship as head coach at the University of Central Missouri as well as two more Division II Final Four appearances (2007, 2009) while compiling a 274-95 (.743) record at the school.
Anderson led UCM to seven trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and seven 20-win seasons. In his final season with the Mules he guided the squad to a 30-5 overall record and the D2 national title.
His Mules teams captured six MIAA regular season titles (2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) and four MIAA Tournament titles (2005, 2007, 2009, 2013).
He was selected the MIAA Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2010, and the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 2014.
Series History
Pitt State and UAFS wil meet for the third time Saturday. The series is tied,1-1, with the Lions claiming a 104-95 win against the Gorillas last year on Nov. 18, 2017, at Fort Smith.
The Gorillas and Saints will meet for just the second time Monday. Pitt State claimed an 83-51 win in the only previous meeting on Nov. 24, 2007, at Joplin, Mo.
All-Time Victories
Pitt State has compiled a 1424-1182 (.546) all-time record in 110 seasons of intercollegiate play. The Gorillas rank 15th on the NCAA Division II wins list (1424).
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has four players scoring in double figures – senior guard Donovan Franklin (24.5 ppg), senior guard Grant Lozoya (20.0 ppg), senior forward/center Trenton Clayton (10.5 ppg) and junior guard A.J. Walker (10.0 ppg) – while two more players – freshman guard Ray Elliott (9.0 ppg) and senior forward Demetrius Levarity (8.5 ppg) – are scoring 8.5 or more points a game.
Franklin leads the Gorillas in scoring (24.5 ppg), rebounding (8.0 rpg) and assists (4.0 apg) after two games played. The St. Louis, Mo., native is shooting 51.7 percent from the field (15-29) and 85.7 percent from the free throw line (18-21). He's currently third in the MIAA in scoring.
Franklin (6-5, 205) earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors in his initial season with the Gorillas, averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26 games played. He shot 49.2 percent from the field, converting 130 of 264 shots on the season. Franklin shot 40.2 percent from 3-point range (41-102). He also made 87.2 percent of his free throw attempts, sinking 129 of 148 charity tries.
Franklin scored 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his Pitt State debut against Minnesota State on Nov. 10, 2017. He scored 20 or more points eight times, including a season-high 31 points against Missouri Western on Feb. 17, 2018. He scored in double figures in 22 of 29 games and averaged 18.7 points per game over the final seven games of the 2017-18 campaign.
Franklin joined the Gorillas from Indiana State University. He averaged 4.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 26 games for the Sycamores in 2016-17. He averaged 14.9 points a game as a freshman at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Fla.
Lozoya is averaging 20.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game to date. The Agoura Hills, Calif., native scored a game-high 28 points in the Gorillas' win against Harding on Nov. 10.
Lozoya (6-3, 180) is shooting 60.9 percent from the field (14-23), 50.0 percent from 3-point range (4-8) and 1.000 percent from the free throw line (8-8).
He averaged 13.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while making 29 starts for the Gorillas a year ago. Lozoya made a team-leading 44 3-point field goals (44-114, .386) and he shot 48.0 percent from the field overall (129-169).
Lozoya scored 20 or more points six times in 2017-18, including a career-best 24 points against Central Oklahoma on Jan. 25, 2018.
Lozoya came to Pitt State after three years at Stetson University. He averaged 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Hatters in 2014-15, earning All-Freshman honors from the Atlantic Sun Conference. Lozoya contributed 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds as a sophomore in 2015-16, before exercising a medical redshirt in 2016-17.
Clayton is averaging 10.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. The Montgomery, Ala., native is shooting 55.6 percent from the field (5-9) and 73.3 perent from the free throw line (11-15).
Clayton (6-9, 230) transferred to Pitt State from the University of North Alabama. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game for the Lions last season. Clayton averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds a game as a sophomore at Shelton State Community College.
Walker is contributing 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to date. The Kansas City, Mo., native is shooting 53.8 percent from the field (7-13) and 57.1 percent from 3-point range (4-7).
Walker (6-0, 165) transferred to Pitt State from State Fair Community College. He averaged 13.7 points and 7.0 assists per game for the Roadrunners in 2017-18, earning honorable mention NJCAA All-America honors.
Elliott has added 9.0 points per game in his first two collegiate contests, while Levarity has added 8.5 points and 2.5 rebounds a game.
Elliott (6-4, 165) averaged 36 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game as a senior at Tulsa's Nathan Hale High School last year. He earned first-team Oklahoma Class 5A All-State honors after leading the state in scoring his senior prep season.
Levarity (6-7, 210) contributed 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season. The New Orleans, La., native shot 50.2 percent from the field (105-209) and he converted 37 of 90 3-point attempts (.411).
Levarity scored in double figures in 17 of 27 games played. He posted three double-doubles, including a 19-point, 11-rebound effort against Fort Hays State on Dec. 2, 2017. Levarity scored a season-high 22 points against Missouri Western on Feb. 17, 2018.
Levarity transferred to Pitt State from Sam Houston State University, where he redshirted in 2016-17. He contributed 15.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Southeastern Illinois College.
Additionally, junior guard Marcel Cherry is scoring 6.5 points per game, while junior forward/center Ethan Steinbronn is contributing 3.0 points per game. Cherry is shooting 50.0 percent from the field (4-8) and he shares the team steals lead – at 2.5 steals per game – with Levarity.
Cherry (6-1, 185) joined the Gorillas from Wabash Valley College where he averaged 7.7 points and 3.2 assists per game in 2017-18. The Merrillville, Ind., native averaged 9.1 points per game and earned honorabl mention All-Conference honors as a freshman at Howard College.
Steinbronn (6-11, 270) joined the Gorillas from Little Priest Tribal College, where he avearged 16.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2017-18. The Westgate, Iowa, native played his freshman season at NCAA Division II Upper Iowa University, averaging 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Pitt State Probable Starters
   F   0   Trenton Clayton, 6-9, 230, Sr., Montgomery, Ala.
   F   5   Demetrius Levarity, 6-7, 210, Sr., New Orleans, La.
   G   1   A.J. Walker, 6-0, 165, Jr., Kansas City, Mo.
   G   2   Grant Lozoya, 6-3, 180, Sr., Agoura Hills, Calif.
   G   3   Donovan Franklin, 6-5, 205, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.
