PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will return to the friendly confines of John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court for a pair of MIAA games this week against Emporia State University Wednesday (Jan. 23) and the Washburn University Saturday (Jan. 26).
The Gorillas and Hornets will meet at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, while Pitt State will battle the Ichabods in matinee action at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Both games 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 is 13-4 overall, 6-2 in MIAA play and tied for third place (with Fort Hays State) in the MIAA standings.
The Gorillas had a modest three-game winning streak snapped in an 83-64 road decision to Northeastern State the last time out Saturday (Jan. 19). Pitt State posted eight consecutive wins after a season-opening loss to Wayne State (95-92) at the Central Region Tipoff Challenge at Warrensburg, Mo.
The Gorillas are 8-0 at home so far this season, including a 4-0 mark in MIAA play at John Lance Arena.
ESU is 7-9 overall and 2-5 in MIAA play. The Hornets dropped a pair of MIAA games this past weekend, falling 59-53 to UNK the last time out on Jan. 20.
WU is 13-3 overall, 6-1 in MIAA action and second in the conference standings heading into a Wednesday match-up against Missouri Southern. The Ichabods beat FHSU, 80-73, in their most recent outing last Saturday (Jan. 19).
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 a 30-17 (.638) 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 331-179 (.649) record in 17 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
Wednesday's action will mark the 194th all-time meeting between Pitt State and ESU. The Hornets hold a slim 98-95 advantage in the series, but the Gorillas have a 56-35 edge in games played in Pittsburg.
On Saturday, Pitt State and WU will meet for the 183rd time in program history. The Ichabods hold a 101-81 advantage in the series, while the Gorillas have doubled up the Ichabods, 56-28, in games played in Pittsburg.
All-Time Victories
Pitt State has compiled a 1436-1185 (.548) all-time record in 110 seasons of intercollegiate play. The Gorillas rank 15th on the NCAA Division II wins list (1436).
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has two players scoring in double figures – senior guard Grant Lozoya (24.5 ppg) and senior guard Donovan Franklin (21.6 ppg) – while five more players – senior forward Demetrius Levarity (9.9 ppg), senior forward/center Trenton Clayton (7.8 ppg), junior guard A.J. Walker (7.5 ppg), freshman guard Ray Elliott (5.0 ppg) and junior guard Marcel Cherry (4.4 ppg) – are scoring four or more points a game.
Lozoya is averaging 24.5 points, a team-leading 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game to date. He leads the MIAA and currently ranks fifth in NCAA Division II in scoring.
The Agoura Hills, Calif., native scored a career-high 38 points in the Gorillas' win against UIndy Dec. 17, posting the third-highest single-game scoring total since Pitt State joined the NCAA ranks in 1990.
Lozoya (6-3, 180) earned MIAA Player of the Week honors on Nov. 9 after scoring 25 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists in Pitt State's 79-71 win over UAFS Nov. 17. He posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds vs. Maryville (Nov. 19).
Lozoya also earned MIAA Player of the Week honors on Dec. 10 after averaging 27.0 points in a pair of MIAA wins over NSU and UCO. He hit the game-winning shot from just inside half court in the Gorillas 77-76 victory against the Bronchos Dec. 8.
He added a third MIAA Player of the Week recognition following the Las Vegas Hoopla on Dec. 20 after averaging 34.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in a pair of games.
Lozoya is shooting 55.0 percent from the field (144-262), 41.1 percent from 3-point range (37-90) and 88.5 percent from the free throw line (91-104). He currently ranks third in the MIAA in free throw percentage and seventh in the league in field goal percentage.
Lozoya averaged 13.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while making 29 starts for the Gorillas a year ago. He made a team-leading 44 3-point field goals (44-114, .386) and he shot 48.0 percent from the field (129-169).
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.
Franklin is averaging 21.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The St. Louis, Mo., native is shooting 48.3 percent from the field (115-238) and 87.1 percent from the free throw line (101-116). He's currently third in the MIAA in scoring and he ranks 12th in the conference in rebounding and fifth in the league in free throw percentage.
Franklin (6-5, 205) scored the game's final nine points as the Gorillas rallied from down 66-62 to claim a 71-66 win over Maryville Nov. 19. He scored a career-high 32 points in a win over UCO on Jan. 17; and he's scored 20 or more points in 11 of Pitt State's 17 games to date.
Franklin 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.
Levarity is averaging 9.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. The New Orleans, La., native also is averaging a team-leading 1.4 steals per game, ranking in a tie for seventh place in the MIAA in the category.
Levarity (6-7, 210) contributed 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. He 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.
Clayton is averaging 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game.The Montgomery, Ala., native is shooting 56.3 percent from the field (49-87). He currently ranks fifth place in the MIAA in blocked shots. He scored a season-high 14 points vs. Baker on Dec. 29.
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 7.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game to date.
Walker (6-0, 165) transferred to Pitt State from State Fair Community College. The Kansas City, Mo., native 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 5.0 points per game in his freshman campaign. 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.
Cherry is averaging 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
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 honorable mention All-Conference honors as a freshman at Howard College.
As a team, Pitt State is shooting 47.2 percent from the field (501-1061), 34.9 percent from 3-point range (149-427) and 76.2 percent from the free throw line (308-404). The Gorillas are scoring 85.8 points per game.
The Gorillas rank fourth in the MIAA and 31st in Division II in scoring (85.8 ppg). Pitt State ranks fourth in the MIAA in turnover margin (-3.06 pg).
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.
