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 pivotal MIAA games this week against Fort Hays State University Thursday (Feb. 7) and the University of Nebraska-Kearney Saturday (Feb. 9).
The Gorillas and Tigers will meet at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Thursday, while Pitt State will battle the Lopers 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 14-7 overall, 7-5 in MIAA play and sixth in the conference standings. The Gorillas will seek to halt a three-game losing streak when they play host to the Tigers Thursday.
Pitt State has won just five of its last nine games after an 11-3 start to the season. The Gorillas dropped a 111-83 road decision to No. 2 Northwest Missouri and a 91-95 overtime road decision to Missouri Western last week.
FHSU is 13-7 overall, 7-4 in MIAA play and fifth in the conference standings. The Tigers are seeking to halt a two-game slide after falling to Nebraska-Kearney, 59-56, last Saturday (Feb. 2).
UNK is 7-13 overall and 2-9 in MIAA action heading into a Thursday match-up against Missouri Southern. The Lopers snapped an eight-game losing streak with their victory against FHSU last Saturday.
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 31-20 (.608) 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 331-181 (.646) 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
Thursday's action will mark the 160th all-time meeting between Pitt State and FHSU. The Tigers hold an 86-73 advantage in the series, but the Gorillas have a 49-31 edge in games played at John Lance Arena.
On Saturday, Pitt State and UNK will meet for the 40th time in program history. The Lopers hold a 30-9 advantage in the series, including a 12-8 lead in games played in Pittsburg.
All-Time Victories
Pitt State has compiled a 1437-1188 (.547) all-time record in 110 seasons of intercollegiate play. The Gorillas rank 15th on the NCAA Division II wins list (1437).
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has two players scoring in double figures – senior guard Grant Lozoya (24.0 ppg) and senior guard Donovan Franklin (21.7 ppg) – while five more players – senior forward Demetrius Levarity (9.4 ppg), senior forward/center Trenton Clayton (7.9 ppg), junior guard A.J. Walker (6.9 ppg), freshman guard Ray Elliott (5.1 ppg, junior forward Christian Edmondson (4.8 ppg) and junior guard Marcel Cherry (4.3 ppg) – are scoring four or more points a game.
Lozoya is averaging 24.0 points, a team-leading 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game to date. He leads the MIAA and currently ranks eighth 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 52.2 percent from the field (156-299), 39.2 percent from 3-point range (40-102) and 89.3 percent from the free throw line (108-121). He currently ranks third in the MIAA in free throw percentage, seventh in the conference in rebounding and ninth 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).
He has scored 882 points in 50 career games for the Gorillas (17.6 ppg).
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 21.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The St. Louis, Mo., native is shooting 49.7 percent from the field (146-294) and 88.0 percent from the free throw line (117-133). He's currently third in the MIAA in scoring and he ranks 11th in the conference in rebounding and fourth 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 posted a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds against the Saints; and he's scored 20 or more points in 14 of Pitt State's 21 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.
He has scored 885 points in 47 career games for the Gorillas (18.8 ppg).
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 9.4 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 fifth place in the MIAA in the category.
Levarity (6-7, 210) contributed 10.7 points and 4.7 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 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game.The Montgomery, Ala., native is shooting 56.8 percent from the field (54-95). He currently ranks in 13th 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 6.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 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 5.2 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.
Edmondson is averaging 4.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in 16 games played. The Flower Mound, Texas, native is shooting 67.3 percent from the field (35-52). He currently ranks ninth in the MIAA in blocked shots. He scored a season-high 12 points vs. MWSU on Feb. 2.
Cherry is averaging 4.3 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 47.4 percent from the field (627-1322), 35.3 percent from 3-point range (183-519) and 75.4 percent from the free throw line (364-483). The Gorillas are scoring 85.8 points 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.
