'Cats, Gorillas Play Exhibition Sunday

Game Information

Kansas State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
vs. Pittsburg State (0-0)

Sunday, November 8, 2009  *  3:10 p.m. CT
Manhattan, Kan.  *  Bramlage Coliseum (12,528)

Television: FOX Sports Kansas City (Ben Boyle, play-by-play; Stan Weber, analyst; Max Leinwand, producer)
Channel Directory: DirecTV 672, Dish Network 445, AT&T U-verse 750

Radio: K-State Sports Network (Wyatt Thompson, play-by-play; Matt Walters, analyst)
Local Stations: 101.5-FM (KMKF), Sports Radio 1350-AM (KMAN).  Satellite Radio: n/a

Head Coaches: Kansas State - Frank Martin (Florida International '93) is 43-24 (.642) in his third season.  Pittsburg State - Gene Iba (Tulsa '63) is 478-357 (.572) in his 30th season as a head coach, including 252-154 (.621) in his 15th and final season.

Series: K-State is 1-0 all-time in exhibition games against Pittsburg State.  Last time:  88-69 win on Nov. 11, 2004.  Frank Martin is 1-0 all-time vs. Pittsburg State, while Gene Iba is 0-2 all-time vs. K-State.

Rankings: K-State is receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Top 25 polls.  Pittsburg State is not ranked in the Division II poll.

Tickets: $20 (bench and Cat Cushion), $30 (chairbacks) at the Athletics Ticket Office at 800.221.CATS or via www.kstatesports.com

Starting Lineups:
Kansas State (0-0)
G - #0 Jacob Pullen (6-0, 200, Jr.)
G - #21 Denis Clemente (6-1, 180, Sr.)
F - #23 Dominique Sutton (6-5, 218, Jr.)
F - #24 Curtis Kelly (6-8, 239, Jr.)
F - #50 Luis Colon (6-10, 265, Sr.)

Pittsburg State (0-0)
F - #0 Clarence "CJ" Masters (6-5, 195, Jr.)
F - #1 Rodney Grace (6-6, 195, Sr.)
G - #2 Spencer Magana (6-4, 192, Sr.)
G - #12 Zach Quick (6-4, 190, So.)
C - #23 Quincy Owens (6-8, 230, Jr.)

Season Tips Off Sunday in Exhibition vs. Pitt State
Months of anticipation ends on Sunday when the 2009-10 Kansas State men's basketball team tips off the season with an exhibition game against Division II Pittsburg State (0-0) at 3 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum.  Third-year head coach Frank Martin returns eight lettermen, including four starters, from a squad that posted a 22-12 overall record, including a 9-7 mark in Big 12 play, and advanced to the second round of the Postseason NIT.  It marks the first time in 15 years that the team has gone to the postseason in three consecutive seasons, while the three 20-win seasons are the first in over 25 years.  The squad has received mention in numerous preseason top 25 polls and did receive votes in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 polls.

K-State will look continue its recent success in exhibition play with seven consecutive wins dating back to the 2004-05 season, including an 81-57 win over Washburn in last year's exhibition affair.  Dating back to 1987, the Wildcats are 30-9 in exhibition games, including 5-0 against teams from the MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association).  Since 2004, the squad has elected to play the four Kansas members (Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State and Washburn) of the MIAA in its lone exhibition tilt, while playing one of the four in a regular season contest since Frank Martin's first year in 2007.  In addition to Pittsburg State in exhibition action, K-State will play Fort Hays State in the regular season on Tuesday, Dec. 1. 

This will be just the second time that the two teams have met in exhibition play with the Wildcats earning an 88-69 win over the Gorillas on Nov. 11, 2004.  Officially, the two squads have met just once with K-State posting a 76-66 win in Martin's first season on Nov. 11, 2007.  Pitt State returns five lettermen, including three starters, from a squad that finished 10-17 overall in 2008-09.  This will mark the 30th and final season for head coach Gene Iba, who is retiring at the end of the season.  The nephew of basketball pioneer Henry "Hank" Iba has won over 478 games in his career, including 252 at PSU.

K-State returns over 80 percent of its scoring in 2009-10, including three of its top-5 scorers in seniors guard Denis Clemente (15.0 ppg.), junior guard Jacob Pullen (13.9 ppg.) and sophomore forward Jamar Samuels (8.3 ppg.).  In addition, the Wildcats return junior forward Dominique Sutton, who not only averaged 7.5 points per game last season, but also averaged 5.4 rebounds per game, and senior center Luis Colon, who along with Pullen started all 34 games to go with 4.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest.  This core of veterans will be aided by junior transfer Curtis Kelly, who played two seasons at Connecticut before sitting out last year, and a five-man freshmen class rated amongst the very best.  This class includes McDonald's and Parade All-American Wally Judge, prep teammate Rodney McGruder, fellow guards Nick Russell and Martavious Irving and 7-footer Jordan Henriquez-Roberts.     

K-State officially opens the season on Friday, Nov. 13 when the Wildcats host Loyola Chicago (0-0) to kick off the Ultimate Wildcat Weekend in Manhattan.  Following the basketball game, the football squad holds its final home game with an 11:30 a.m. kickoff against Missouri, while women's basketball follows at 5 p.m. with its opener against Indiana State at Bramlage Coliseum.  The volleyball team concludes the night with a 7 p.m. first serve against nationally-ranked Iowa State at Ahearn Fieldhouse.  The men's basketball team then returns to action on Sunday with a contest against Western Illinois at 3 p.m.