PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball will wrap up the regular season with a pair of road games this week. The Gorillas will travel to Emporia, Kan., to take on Emporia State University Wednesday (Feb. 23) then journey to Wichita to face Newman University Saturday (Feb. 26).

Tip-off for Wednesday's game is set for 7:30 p.m. (CST) at William L. White Auditorium, while Saturday's tilt will get underway at 3:30 p.m. at Fugate Gym

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 is 8-18 overall and 7-13 in MIAA play heading into Wednesday's action. The Gorillas swept pair of games from Missouri Southern State University last week, beating the Lions, 95-82, in Joplin, Mo., on Feb. 16, and 73-71 in Pittsburg last Saturday (Feb. 19).

ESU is 19-7 overall and 14-6 in MIAA play heading into this Wednesday's action. The Hornets claimed a 76-75 road win over Northwest Missouri State University in their last action Monday (Feb. 21).

NU is 4-21 overall and 1-19 in the MIAA heading into a Thursday (Feb. 24) home game against Lincoln University. The Jets are seeking to halt an 11-game slide.

Head Coach Kim Anderson
Pittsburg State's Kim Anderson is in his fifth season leading the Gorillas. He has compiled a 64-74 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 365-236 (.607) 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
The Gorillas and the Hornets will meet for the 200th time Wednesday. The Hornets hold a slight 101-98 edge in the competitive series, including a 60-40 advantage in games played at Emporia. ESU posted a 74-59 victory over Pitt State in Pittsburg on Jan. 13, 2022.

Pitt State and Newman are meeting for the 33rd time Saturday. The Gorillas lead the Jets, 19-13, in the series. NU is 8-4 against Pitt State at Wichita. Pitt State defeated the Jets, 71-66, in Pittsburg on Dec. 1, 2021.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has two players averaging in double figures on the season:  graduate forward Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. and graduate guard Iziah James.

Arthur-Williams, who missed the Gorillas' first 12 games due to injury, is averaging a team-leading 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 12 games played. He is shooting 48.5 percent (50-103) from the field. Arthur-Williams posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds in his season debut vs. MWSU on Jan. 1.

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.

James contributed 10.4 points per game before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He was shooting 44.1 percent from the field (75-170), including 43.7 percent from 3-point range (31-71). James scored a season high 30 points against Lincoln on Dec. 15.

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.

Additionally, the Gorillas have seven players scoring 5.6 or more points per game: freshman forward Cameron Huefner (9.7 ppg), junior guard Quentin Hardtict Jr. (9.5 ppg), graduate guard Ryan Pippins (8.8 pg), junior guard Tyler Hawkins (8.6 pg), redshirt sophomore guard R.J. Lawrence (6.3 ppg), graduate forward Antonio Givens II (5.6 ppg) and graduate guard Dejon Waters Jr. (5.6 ppg).

Huefner is averaging 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in his second season in the Pitt State program. He is shooting 50.6 percent from the field (80-158) to date. Huefner scored a career high 22 points vs. LU (Feb. 5).

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.

Hardrict has played in 15 games and averaged 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He is shooting 52.6 percent from the field and he posted 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against Lincoln on Dec. 15.

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.

Pippins is averaging 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He scored a career high 22 points vs. Washburn (Jan. 15) and he matched that total against UNK on Jan. 20.

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 8.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He averaged 19.0 points and shot 72.2 percent from the field in a pair of games last week.

Hawkins (6-3, 175) joined 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.

Lawrence has contributed 6.3 points in 14 games played this season. He scored a career high 20 points vs. UCM (Feb. 7).

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.

Givens is contributing 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 21 games played. He posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds vs. Baker (Nov. 27).

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.

Waters has averaged 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Waters (6-4, 220) returned after exercising 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.

Senior forward Zach Burch, sophomore guard Magic Reliford and junior guard Ike Moore are contributing between 2.9 and 4.8 points per game.

Burch is averaging 4.8 points and shooting 60.9 percent (39-64) from the field in 19 games played. He also has a team-leading 18 blocked shots (0.9 bpg) on the season.

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. 

Reliford is contributing 4.0 points in 23 games played. He posted a season high 24 points vs. MSSU on Feb. 16 and he's averaged 16.7 points in the Gorillas' last three games.

Reliford (6-2, 185) came to Pitt State from Neosho Community College. The Parsons, Kan., native averaged 17.7 points per game and earned first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference honors in 2020-21. He scored 30 or more points three times on the season and ranked eighth in the Jayhawk Conference in scoring.

Moore has averaged 2.9 points in 19 games played for the Gorillas. He scored a career best 15 points vs. RSU (Jan. 29).

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.