Gorillas Set to Host MSSU, Battle Newman at Wichita

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University men's basketball team will wrap up a three-game home stand by facing Missouri Southern State University Tuesday (Jan. 7). The Gorillas and Lions will meet at 7:30 p.m. (CST) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.

Following Tuesday's action, Pitt State will travel to Wichita, Kan., Thursday (Jan. 9) for an MIAA road match-up against Newman University. That contest will tip off at 7:30 p.m. at Fugate Gymnasium.

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 7-6 overall and 3-1 in MIAA play. Pitt State split a pair of home games last week. The Gorillas downed the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 70-59, last Thursday (Jan. 2), before dropping a 91-87 decision to Northeastern State University Saturday (Jan. 4).

MSSU will bring a 7-6 mark (2-2 MIAA) into Tuesday's action. The Lions posted an 89-80 hme win over UAFS in their last outing Saturday.

Newman is 9-4 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play heading into Thursday's match-up against Pitt State. The Jets are seeking to halt a two-game slide after dropping decisions to Rogers State University (76-66) and the University of Central Oklahoma (90-72) last week.

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 187-123 (.603) 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
Tuesday's action will mark the 115th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Lions. MSSU holds a 64-50 advantage in the series, but Pitt State is 33-22 against the Lions at John Lance Arena. MSSU has won the last four match-ups against the Gorillas.

Pitt State and Newman will meet for the 38th time in program history Thursday. The Gorillas hold a 23-14 advantage in the series, including four straight victories over the Jets.

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 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds as well as 3.8 assists per game in his first 13 contests as a Gorilla. He has made a team-leading 41 3-point field goals (41-103). Taggart ranks 12th in the MIAA in scoring, third in the conference in 3-point field goals (3.2 pg) and 3-point field goal percentage (.398).

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 13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.7 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 528 points (12.0 ppg) and dished out 233 assists (5.3 apg) in 44 career games for the Gorillas.

Forney is averaging 10.6 points per game thus far. He is shooting .438 from the field (49-112), including .378 from 3-point range (31-82). Forney also is contributing 3.8 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 (2.4 pg).

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 76 of 111 games played, scoring 713 points (6.4 ppg) and converting 191 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 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 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. He currently leads the MIAA in free throw percentage (.930, 40-43).

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 in seven games played. 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 6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in 12 games played. 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 (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) has seen increased action as the season has progressed. He is shooting .667 from the floor (22-33). 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 4.7 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 3.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He is shooting .514 from the field (19-37).

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 (2.5 ppg) and also has seen action in 11 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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