PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will return home to John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court for a pair of games this week.

The Gorillas take on the University of Nebraska-Kearney Thursday (Jan. 21) at 7:30 p.m. (CST)and entertain Fort Hays State University Saturday (Jan. 23) at 3:30 p.m.

The Pitt State action 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 5-6 on the season. The Gorillas dropped a pair of road games last week, falling 75-72 to Emporia State University on Jan. 14 and 84-62 to No. 8 Washburn University on Jan. 16.

Nebraska-Kearney is 4-7 on the year as well. The Lopers split a pair of home games last week, upsetting No. 16 Missouri Western State University, 75-67, on Jan. 14 before falling to No. 3 Northwest Missouri State University, 73-63, on Jan. 16.

Fort Hays State is 3-7 on the season and riding a four-game losing streak heading into a Thursday (Jan. 21) road match-up against Missouri Southern State University. The Tigers dropped a 64-51 decision to NWMSU on Jan. 14.

Head Coach Kim Anderson
Pittsburg State's Kim Anderson is in his fourth season leading the Gorillas. He has compiled a pair of 51-50 record in his first three seasons at Pitt State.

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 352-212 (.624) record in 20 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 match-up will be the 43rd meeting between the Gorillas and the Lopers. UNK holds a 32-11 edge in the series including a 13-8 advantage in games played at John Lance Arena.

Monday's action will be the163rd all-time meeting between Pitt State and FHSU. The Tigers hold an 88-74 advantage in the series, but the Gorillas are 49-32 at home against FHSU.

Scouting the Gorillas
The Gorillas have two players averaging in double figures on the season – junior forward Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. (15.0 ppg) and junior guard Martin Vogts (12.9 ppg) – and four players contributing 6.6 or more points per game – Quentin Hardrict Jr. (9.7 ppg), senior guard Ryan Pippins (7.3 ppg) and senior forwards Zach Burch (6.7 ppg) and Antonio Givens II (6.6 ppg).

Arthur-Williams (6-7, 225) is shooting 50.5 percent from the field (52-103) on the season and averaging a team-leading 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He ranks ninth in the MIAA in rebounding and 11th in scoring.

Arthur-Williams was named the MIAA Player of the Week on Dec. 21 after  contributing 23 points and nine rebounds against MWSU on Dec. 17.

Arthur-Williams transferred to Pitt State from NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He redshirted at MKE in 2019-20, after averaging 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as a junior in 2018-19.

Arthur-Williams averaged 17.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Redlands Community College. The Potomac, Md., native played his freshman season at Louisburg (N.C.) College.

Vogts is averaging 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on the season. He has made a team-leading 29 3-point field goals (29-68, .426). Vogts scored a season high 26 points vs. MSSU (Jan. 9). He ranks in a tie for third place in the MIAA in 3-point field goals (2.6 pg) and fourth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.426, 29-68).

Vogts came to Pitt State after two seasons at Barton Community College. The Manhattan, Kan., native averaged 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds an 2.0 assist per game as a sophomore in 2019-20. He scored nine points in the Gorillas season opener against UCO.

Vogts (6-1, 175) contributed 8.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Cougars.

Hardrict is averaging 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and a team-leading 2.3 assists per game. Hardrict scored a season best 27 points vs. NWMSU (Jan. 2).

Hardrict came to Pitt State from North Iowa Area Community College.

The Minneapolis, Minn., native was a two-time All-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference selection. Hardrict (5-10, 160) averaged 16.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game as a sophomore in 2019-20. 

He contributed 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game during his freshman season.

Pippins is contributing 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He's 21-for-24 (.875) from the free throw line on the season.

Pippins joined the Gorillas after four seasons at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Pippins (6-0, 240) redshirted during the 2019-20 while he battled back from an off season injury. He scored 15 points in his Pitt State debut against the Bronchos.

The Little Rock, Ark., native avearged 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game as a junior in 2018-19.

Burch is averaging 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting a team-best 67.4 percent from the field to date (31-46). He also has blocked nine shots thus far (0.8 bpg). He scored a season high 14 points vs. NSU (Dec. 5).

Burch (6-6, 225) transferred to Pitt State from NCAA Division II member Rockhurst University. The Butler, Mo., native contributed 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per  game during the 2018-19 season for the Hawks. 

Givens is chipping in with 6.6 points and 2.8 rebounds on the year. He is shooting 47.6 percent from the field (20-42). Givens scored a season-best 16 points vs. NSU (Dec. 5).

Givens averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last year, after transferring to Pitt State from NCAA Division I Kent State University, where he redshirted in 2018-19.

Givens (6-9, 260) shot 53.6 percent from the field last year, converting 89 of 166 shots from the floor.

He averaged 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Wabash Valley College in 2017-18.

Three more players – junior guard Ike Moore , freshman forward Cameron Huefner and redshirt sophomore guard R.J. Lawrence – are scoring between 4.6 and 6.2 points per game.

Moore is averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game and shooting 50.0 percent from the field (25-50). He has converted 10 of 24 3-point field goals (.417). He scored a season high 16 points vs. NSU (Dec. 5).

Moore transferred to Pitt State after two seasons at Arkansas State University Mid South.

Moore (6-3, 175) averaged 16.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game as a sophomore for the Greyhounds in 2019-20. 

The Fort Smith, Ark., native averaged 9.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game during his freshman campaign.

Huefner (6-7, 210) is contributing 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He scored a season best 15 points vs. ESU (Jan. 14).

Lawrence is averaging 4.6 points and 1.4 assists per game on the season.

Lawrence averaged 9.3 points and 3.0 assists per game last year, before an injury cut short his sophomore campaign and forced him to exercise a medical redshirt.

The Blue Springs, Mo., native contributed 3.5 points per game as a freshman in 2018-19.

Freshman guard R.J. Forney Jr. (6-3, 175) has started the last five games and averaged 2.3 points per game.

Other Pitt State veterans in the lineup include sophomore guard Drew Roelfs and sophomore forward Ethan Holloway. 

Roelfs (6-1, 180), a Pittsburg native, started three games in 2019-20, averaging 2.3 points per game.

Holloway (6-8, 200), from Iola, Kan., saw action in eight games in a reserve role for the Gorillas last year.

Pitt State Probable Starters
  F   2  Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr., 6-7, 225, Gr., Potomac, Md.
  F  34  Zach Burch, 6-6, 225, Sr., Butler, Mo.
  G   5  Quentin Hardrict Jr., 5-10, 160, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.
  G  10  R.J. Forney Jr., 6-3, 175, Fr., Broken Arrow, Okla.
  G  11  Martin Vogts, 6-1, 175, Jr., Manhattan, Kan.