Gorillas Open New Year Against Lions, RiverHawks

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team return from Christmas break to open the New Year with a pair of home games against the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Northeastern State University.

The Gorillas will battle the Lions Thursday (Jan. 2) at 7:30 p.m. (CST) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court; and Pitt State will entertain the RiverHawks at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 4).

The Gorillas 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 Record
The Gorillas are 6-5 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play. Pitt State saw a four-game winning streak snapped in a pair of tight losses at the River City Holiday Classic, Dec. 17-18, at San Antonio, Texas. The Gorillas dropped a 62-58 decision to the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a 68-60 decision to Colorado Mesa University.

UAFS will bring a 6-5 mark (0-2 MIAA) into Thursday's action. The Lions have posted three straight wins, including an 89-76 victory over Drury University in their most recent match-up on Dec. 21.

NSU is 7-4 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play heading into a Thursday non-conference tilt against Ozark Christian College. The RiverHawks claimed an 81-79 road win over Missouri Southern State University the last time out on Dec. 17.

Head Coach Jeff Boschee
Jeff Boschee is in his third year as head basketball coach at Pittsburg State. He guided the Gorillas to a 21-11 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II National Tournament a year ago. Pitt State posted a 15-7 mark in MIAA play and the squad reached the finals of the 2023-24 MIAA Postseason Tournament.

Prior to accepting the Pitt State position, Boschee served as head coach at MIAA rival Missouri Southern State University for eight seasons. He compiled a 151-86 (.637) overall record leading the Lions.

He has a 186-122 (.604) career record as a head coach.

Boschee directed MSSU to four 20-win seasons and three consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament between the 2017-18 and the 2019-20 campaigns. He was selected the 2017-18 MIAA Coach of the Year and his 2018-19 squad reached the NCAA Sweet 16 while posting a 25-8 record.

As a collegiate player, Boschee was a four-year starter at the University of Kansas under former KU coach Roy Williams from the 1998-99 to 2001-02 seasons. While at KU he helped the Jayhawks win a Big 12 Conference Championship and a Big 12 Conference Tournament title, and he played in the 2002 NCAA Final Four.

Series History
Thursday's action will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Lions. Pitt State holds a 2-1 advantage in the series. The two squads last met on Nov. 10, 2018, with Pitt State posting a 79-71 win in Pittsburg.

Pitt State and Northeastern State will meet for the 78th time in program history Saturday. The Gorillas hold a 56-21 advantage in the series, including an 11-1 mark in the last 12 games played in Pittsburg. Pitt State beat NSU, 97-73, the last time out on Jan. 27, 2024, at John Lance Arena.

Scouting the Gorillas
The Gorillas have four players scoring in double figures to date: graduate guard Avery Taggart, sophomore guard Jordan Frison , redshirt senior guard R.J. Forney Jr.and junior guard Tanner Mans.

Taggart is averaging a team-leading 14.4 points and 4.7 rebounds as well as 3.5 assists per game in his first 11 contests as a Gorilla. He has made a team-leading 36 3-point field goals (36-89). Taggart ranks 12th in the MIAA in scoring, third in the conference in 3-point field goals (3.3 pg) and fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.404).

Taggart (Eureka, Mo.) transferred to Pitt State from MIAA rival Missouri Southern. A two-time honorable mention All-MIAA performer, Taggart started in 71 of 107 career games for the Lions, scoring 1,050 points (9.8 ppg) and making 184 3-point field goals.

He scored a season best 23 points vs. UCO on Dec. 4.

Frison is contributing 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. He currently leads the MIAA in assists.

Frison (Memphis, Tenn.) returned for his second season in the program following an All-MIAA campaign in which he was selected the 2023-24 MIAA Freshman of the Year. He started all 31 games played a year ago, averaging 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Frison finished the season ranked second in the MIAA in assists and 12th in the league in steals.

Frison (6-0, 170) scored a career best 24 points in a road win over Newman on Feb. 3 last year. He also set the all-time Pitt State single game assist record with 13 helpers against Henderson State on Dec. 19.

Frison averaged 28 points, six assists and four rebounds per game as a senior at Overton High School. He helped OHS to the 2023 Tennessee Class 4A state championship, while garnering Class 4A MVP honors.

He has scored 495 points (11.8 ppg) and dished out 220 assists (5.2 apg) in 42 career games for the Gorillas.

Forney is averaging 11.0 points per game thus far. He is shooting .452 from the field (42-93), including .412 from 3-point range (28-68). Forney also is contributing 3.7 rebounds per game. He scored a career best 25 points in the Gorillas win vs. St. Cloud State on Nov. 10.

Forney ranks fourth in the MIAA in 3-point field goals (2.5 pg) and third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage.

Forney (Broken Arrow, Okla.) averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds last year and hit a team-leading 63 3-point field goals. He averaged 2.0 3-point field goals per game, shooting .426 from behind the arc (63-148). Forney was selected to the five-man 2023-24 MIAA All-Defensive Team.

He contributed 8.9 points per game and knocked down 70 3-pointers (2.5 per game) during the 2022-23 campaign. Forney (6-3, 180) scored a career high 19 points against Emporia State on Feb. 23, 2023.

For his career, Forney has started 74 of 109 games played, scoring 696 points (6.4 ppg) and converting 188 3-point field goals. He ranks in fourth place in program history in 3-point field goals made.

Forney 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.

Mans has contributed 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game thus far. He scored a career high 18 points in Pitt State's home opening win against Arkansas Tech on Nov. 24.

Mans (6-6, 200) started 14 games in 2023-24 and averaged 8.0 points per game. The Wichita native converted 46 of 102 3-point field goals, shooting .451 from 3-point range. He also shot .900 from the free throw line, making 36 of 40 attempts.

Mans came to Pitt State from Virginia Military Institute, where he averaged 5.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game during the 2021-22 season. He was a Kansas Class 5A All-State performer as a senior at Bishop Carroll High School.

Junior center Darrell Washington has chipped in with 9.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting .538 from the field (28-52).

Washington (Lake Charles, La.) joined the Gorillas last January, after playing his sophomore season at Lee College in 2022-23. He averaged 6.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 21 games played for the Navigators.

Junior center Tane Prictor is averaging 5.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in 10 games played to date. He posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds vs. Colorado Mesa on Dec. 18.

Prictor (Bend, Ore.) started in four of 23 games played in 2023-24, averaging 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. He also blocked 34 shots on the season.

Prictor (6-11, 275) posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds vs. MSSU on Feb. 11, 2023. He scored a career best 13 points vs. William Jewell last year (Nov. 25) and he recorded six blocked shots vs. Nebraska-Kearney (Jan. 11).

Prictor signed with Pitt State out of Mountain View (Ore.) High School where he was an honorable mention Oregon Class 6A All-State performer as a senior for the Cougars. He averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game, leading the state of Oregon in blocked shots.

Redshirt freshman guard/forward Evan Jackson (4.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) has seen increased action as the season has progressed. He is averaging 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game and shooting .636 from the floor (14-22). Jackson posted a double-double with13 points and 12 rebounds vs UCO on Dec. 4.

Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) saw action in six games in 2023-24 before an injury cut short his rookie campaign. He was a McDonald's All-America nominee as a senior at the De La Salle Insitute, where he averaged 14.6 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots per game.

Junior guard Johannes Kirsipuu is contributing 4.3 points per game.

Kirsipuu (Sulu, Estonia) came to Pitt State after two seasons at NCAA Division I Central Arkansas. Kirsipuu (6-2, 185) started 26 of 55 career games for the Bears. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 assists per game last year.

Sophomore forward Miles Branch also is averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He is shooting .548 from the field (17-31).

Branch (Lawrence, Kan.) transferred to Pitt State after two seasons at the University of South Dakota. Branch (6-9, 225) redshirted in 2023-24, after seeing action in 16 games for the Coyotes as a freshman in 2022-23.

Redshirt sophomore Hayden Shanks (2.6 ppg) and also has seen action in nine games for the Gorillas.

Shanks (Bentonville, Ark.) competed in 20 games in a reserve role for the Gorillas last year. He garnered Arkansas Class 6A All-State honors as a senior at Bentonville High School, averaging 12 points and five rebounds a game his senior season.

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