Games 14 & 15 

at Pittsburg State (10-5 (3-1 MIAA)) 
Thursday, January 8th| 7:30 PM | Pittsburg, Kan.
Video | Live Stats 

 at Missouri Southern (7-7 (1-4 MIAA)) 
Saturday, January 10th | 3:30 PM | Joplin, MO
Video | Live Stats | Audio
 

Last Time Out
The Jets dropped both matchups last week against Rogers State and Central Oklahoma. Against the Hillcats, Newman found itself trailing at halftime but mounted a second-half comeback that ultimately fell short. Jayden Schoen led the Jets offensively in the contest with 16 points. In the matchup with the Bronchos, the Jets once again faced a halftime deficit, but Central Oklahoma's offense kept Newman at arm's length throughout the second half to secure the win. Thatcher McClure paced the Jets with 19 points, while Cyrus Shaw added a career-high 15 points.

Scouting the Jets 
The Jets average 81.8 points per game while allowing 78.8 points to their opponents. As a team, Newman shoots 46.4% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc. Thatcher McClure leads the Jets offensively, averaging 11.6 points per game while shooting an efficient 60.4% from the field and 47.7% from three-point range. Brandon Wilson follows closely, contributing 9.9 points per game on 54% shooting. Trae Clayton adds scoring depth off the bench at 9.2 points per contest. Kobe Freeman paces the team in playmaking with a team-high 48 assists while also averaging 7.8 points per game. On the glass, McClure and Sam Somerhalder share the team lead with 63 rebounds apiece.



 Behind Enemy Lines
The Gorillas enter the matchup riding a two-game winning streak after an overtime victory over Northeastern State and an 82–71 win against Missouri Southern. As a team, Pitt State averages 80.3 points per game while allowing just 70.3 points to opponents. Connor Rogers leads the Gorillas offensively, averaging 20.7 points per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. He is also the team's top perimeter threat, connecting on 41.8% of his three-point attempts. Mason English is the second-leading scorer at 13.8 points per game and serves as the primary facilitator, pacing the team with 87 assists. Donald Coats anchors the glass for Pitt State, leading the team with 82 rebounds through 15 games.

The Lions enter the matchup amid a four-game losing streak and sit at 1–4 in conference play. Southern's offense averages 90.6 points per game, though the Lions surrender 82.4 points per contest on the defensive end. Jaden Taylor leads MSSU offensively, averaging 22.3 points per game. Gavyn Elkamil provides additional scoring support with 14.1 points per contest while shooting 42.6% from the field. Tyrone Wright Jr. anchors the Lions on the boards, pulling down 92 rebounds on the season, including 6.6 per game. Taylor and Colin Ruffin share the team lead in assists with 31 apiece.


The Series
-The Gorillas lead the series 15-6 against the Jets. Newman's last win against the Gorillas came in February of 2022. 

-The Lions have taken 9 of 11 meetings between the teams, with the Jets most recent win coming on 1/11/2025 at home. 

Next Up
The Jets will welcome UCM and Washburn to Fugate Gymnasium next week, hosting the Mules on Wednesday and the Ichabods on Saturday.