PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) play this week by hosting Newman University Wednesday (Dec. 1) and the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Dec. 4).

The Gorillas will battle the Jets at 7:30 p.m. (CST) Wednesday; and, Pitt State's action against the Bronchos Saturday has a 3:30 p.m. start time.

The Pitt State action can be heard on ESPN 100.7 FM radio, online at espn1007.com/ or through the ESPN 100.7 or KSHQ app for phones or mobile devices.

The Records
Pitt State brings an 1-5 record into the opening week of MIAA play. The Gorillas split a pair of non-conference games last week, dropping a 59-57 road decision to Henderson State University last Wednesday (Nov. 24) before claiming a 68-50 home win against Baker University last Saturday (Nov. 27).

Newman is 3-2 on the young season. The Jets enter on a three-game winning streak after starting the season 0-2. Newman posted a 4-18 overall record during the 2020-21 campaign.

UCO is 4-1 on the year heading into a Thursday (Dec. 2) road game against Missouri Southern State University. The Bronchos defeated Cameron University, 87-71, in their last action Nov. 27. UCO posted a 13-11 record last season.

Head Coach Kim Anderson
Pittsburg State's Kim Anderson is in his fifth season leading the Gorillas. He has compiled a 57-61 record 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 358-223 (.616) overall record 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 32nd all-time meeting between Pitt State and Newman. The Gorillas hold a 18-13 advantage in the series against the Jets. The two teams last met on Feb. 17, 2021, with NU prevailing, 79-77.

The Gorillas and the Bronchos will meet for the 38th time Saturday. UCO holds a 21-16 advantage in the series. The Bronchos posted a 77-66 victory in the last meeting on Nov. 21, 2020.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has two players scoring in double figures early in the season:  senior guard Iziah James and freshman forward Cameron Huefner.

James has contributed a team-leading 11.2 points per game so far. He is shooting 48.0 percent from the field (24-50), including 50.0 percent from 3-point range (10-20).

James (6-0, 180) transferred to Pitt State from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Cougars during the 2020-21 season.

Huefner is averaging 11.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in his second season in the Pitt State program. He is shooting 48.0 percent from the field (24-50) to date.

Huefner contributed 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a true freshman in 2020-21. He shot 51.1 percent from the floor (45-88), including 50.0 percent from 3-point range (14-28).

Huefner, an international player, signed with Pitt State from his native Australia. He averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game for the Under 18 Norwood Flames.

Additionally, the Gorillas have six players scoring 5.0 or more points per game:  graduate guard Ryan Pippins (9.5 pg), junior guard Tyler Hawkins (8.2 pg), senior forward Zach Burch (8.0 ppg), junior guard Quentic Hardrict Jr. (8.0 ppg), graduate forward Antonio Givens II (5.0 ppg) and redshirt sophomore guard R.J. Lawrence (5.0 ppg).

Pippins is averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He scored a season high 21 points vs. Henderson State (Nov. 24).

Pippins chipped in with 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last year. He shot a team-leading 87.8 percent from the free throw line (43-49).

Pippins (6-0, 240) joined the Gorillas after four seasons at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Pippins redshirted in 2019-20 while he battled back from an off season injury. 

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

Hawkins has contributed 8.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Hawkins (6-3, 175) joins the Gorillas from from Brookdale Community College, where he averaged 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Jersey Blues during the 2019-20 season.

Burch is averaging 8.0 points and shooting 55.9 percent (19-34) from the field so far. He also has a team-leading eight blocked shots (1.3 bpg).

Burch contributed 6.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last year, while shooting a team best 61.5 percent from the field (56-91). He also blocked a team-leading 13 shots.

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. 

Hardrict has played in two games and averaged 8.0 points and 2.0 assists. He missed both contests last week but is expected to return to the lineup for this week's MIAA action.

Hardrict contributed 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 2020-21. He shot 45.0 percent from the field (85-189) and garnered honorable mention All-MIAA honors. 

Hardrict (5-10, 160) 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 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.

Givens is contributing 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in three games played. He posted a double double with 22 points and 10 rebounds on Nov. 27 against Baker.

Givens averaged 8.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game last year, starting eight of 20 games played. He shot 52.8 percent from the floor (57-108).

Givens (6-9, 260) averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 2019-20, shooting 53.6 percent from the field (89-166). The Columbus, Ohio, native transferred to Pitt State from NCAA Division I Kent State University where he redshirted in 2018-19.

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

Givens averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in Pitt State's two exhibition games this season.

Lawrence has contributed 5.0 points in two games played this season.

Lawrence (5-11, 145) averaged 4.8 points per game in 2020-21. The Blue Springs, Mo., native contributed 9.3 points for the Gorillas in 2019-20, before an injury cut short his season.

Graduate guard Dejon Waters Jr., freshman guard R.J. Forney, junior guard Ike Moore and redshirt sophomore Ethan Holloway are contributing between 1.3 and 4.8 points per game.

Waters has averaged 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Waters (6-4, 220) returned after excercising a medical redshirt season in 2020-21. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 rebounds per game in 2019-20. Waters shot 47.3 percent from 3-point range, making 44 of 93 long range shots.

The Atlanta, Ga., native transferred to Pitt State from Central Georgia Tech.

Moore has averaged 2.0 points in two games played for the Gorillas.

Moore averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 51.2 percent (42-82) from the field last year.

Moore (6-3, 175) transferred to Pitt State from Arkansas State University Mid-South. He averaged 16.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game as a sophomore for the Greyhounds.

Forney and Holloway have both chipped in with 1.3 points per game so far.

Forney started eight games and averaged 3.9 points per game as a true freshman in 2020-21. He made 23 3-point field goals on the season.

Forney (6-3, 175) came to Pitt State from Tulsa's Union High School, where he averaged 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists his senior year.

Holloway (6-8, 220) averaged 3.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in eight games played in 2020-21. The Iola, Kan., native shot 63.2 percent (12-19) from the field for the year.

The Gorillas also will look for graduate forward Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. to be a key contributer. He has missed Pitt State's first six games.

Arthur-Williams (6-7, 225) averaged a team-leading 12.0 points and 6.7 rebounds a year ago, while starting 19 games for the Gorillas. He shot 45.8 percent from the field (70-153) and went to the foul line a team-leading 121 times on the season.

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.