Men's Basketball | 11/17/2015 12:01:00 PM
Wichita, Kan. – The Newman University Jets square off tonight (Nov. 17) at 7 p.m. at Fugate Gymnasium in their home opener against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Both teams come into tonight having a 2-0 record after the first week of play. Newman was at the Oklahoma Christian Classic this past weekend in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Jets came out on top by beating Cameron 81-79 and Texas A&M-Commerce 89-79. Pittsburg State was at the MIAA/NSIC Classic in Joplin, Missouri and took home two wins over Minnesota State Mankato 62-59 and St. Cloud State 85-69. The Gorillas are coached by Kevin Muff (78W's-67L's) who's in his sixth year with the program and your Jets are coached by
Mark Potter (307W's-191L's) who's in his eighteenth season.
Series History Today's game is the 26
th all-time meeting between Newman and Pittsburg State. The Gorillas hold a 14-11 record lead over the Jets. The first time the Jets and the Gorillas faced off was in the 1974 season. The latest game in the series was back on Dec. 2, 2014 in Pittsburg, Kan. The Gorillas took the contest in the jungle 82-66 last season. The Jets are looking to revenge the loss from last year in front of the home crowd tonight.
Team StatsAfter two games this season your Jets are third in the conference in scoring with 85.0 points per game. The Jets are also third in the conference in 3 point shots made, averaging 10.5 3 point shots made per game. Also, after this past weekend the Jets are sitting in second place in the conference with a 1.83 assist/turnover ratio.
Players to Watch Jalen Love: A senior guard from Wichita, Kansas, is leading the Jets and second in the Heartland Conference with 19.0 points per game. He's shooting 47.8% from the field and 50% from behind the arc on the season thus far. Love hopes to continue getting the ball in the hoop at a high rate.
James Pegues: A senior forward from Fort Worth, Texas, is second on the team and third in the Heartland Conference with 18.5 points per game. He had a team high 20 points against Cameron on Friday Nov. 13. He's leading the team in shooting percentage with an impressive 68.4%. Also, he's the team leading rebounder with 5 rebounds per game. For tonight's game Pegues hopes to continue to be a force on the scoring end and on the boards.
Gavin Thurman: A senior forward from Wichita, Kansas, is fourth on the team in scoring with 12.0 points per game. He's second in rebounding with 4.5 rebounds per game. Thurman plans on being a threat from the outside shooting and also down-low on the block getting rebounds and put-backs.
Cortrael Colbert: A senior guard from Midwest City, Oklahoma, is fifth on the team in scoring with 10.0 points per game. He's the team's leading assist man and fifth in the Heartland Conference with 4.0 assists per game. Colbert's ability to drive and dish the ball to teammates will be huge for tonight's game.
Jarvis Williams: A junior guard from Jackson, Mississippi, is third on the team in scoring with 16.0 points per game. He had a game high 22 points and team high 5 assists against Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday Nov. 14. Also, he's shooting 57.1% from the field and 53.8% from behind the 3 point line. Williams is hopeful that his success from Saturday will carry over into tonight's game for the Jets.
Info for Tonight's Game: There will be live video, live stats and radio from KGSO 1410 AM for tonight's contest. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium.
