Game Preview // K-State Opens Exhibition Play with Pitt State Thursday

Thursday, November 4

Manhattan, Kan.

7 p.m.

Kansas State University

Pittsburg State

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Game Preview // K-State Opens Exhibition Play with Pitt State Thursday

Nov 03, 2021 | Men's Basketball

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The Wildcats open their highly-anticipated season at Bramlage Coliseum

EXHIBITION
KANSAS STATE vs. PITTSBURG STATE
Thursday, November 3, 2021 >> 7:01 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (11,654) >> Manhattan, Kan.

TELEVISION
Big 12 Now on ESPN+ / WatchESPN

Ben Boyle (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (analyst)
Katherine Benhardt (sideline reporter)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
Flagships: // KMAN 1350 & WIBW 580
No satellite radio
Online: Varsity Network [free] / www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Matt Walters (analyst)

LIVE STATS
www.kstatesports.com
kstate.statbroadcast.com

TICKETS
www.kstatesports.com/tickets
(800) 221.CATS [2287]
Single Game: $10, $15, $25

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 483-285/24^th season
At K-State: 170-130/10^th season
vs. Pittsburg State: 3-0 (exhibition)

Pittsburg State: Kim Anderson (Missouri '77)
Overall: 357-218/21^st season
Record at Pitt State: 56-56/5^th season
vs. K-State: 0-1 (exhibition)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State
G: #00 Mike McGuirl
G: #13 Mark Smith
G: #21 Nijel Pack
F: #25 Ismael [Ish] Massoud
F: #20 Kaosi Ezeagu

Pittsburg State
G: #1 Dejon Waters, Jr.
G: #5 Quentin Hardrict, Jr.
G: #11 Magic Reliford
G: #24 Tyler Hawkins
F: #34 Zach Burch

EXHIBITION HISTORY
Overall: K-State leads 69-20
In Manhattan: K-State leads 54-9
At Bramlage Coliseum: K-State leads 48-9
Current Streak: K-State, 9
vs. Pittsburg State: K-State leads 5-0
Last Meeting: W, 79-39 [11/2/2018 in Manhattan]

K-STATE OPENS EXHIBITION PLAY WITH PITT STATE THURSDAY

Kansas State (0-0) will play its first exhibition game in more than two seasons on Thursday (November 4), as the Wildcats welcome Division II foe Pittsburg State (0-0) to Bramlage Coliseum for a 7 p.m., CT tip. K-State did not play any exhibition games in 2020-21 due to COVID-19 restrictions, a first time for such an occurrence since the 1986-87 season.
K-State will play an exhibition game for the first time since sweeping another pair of Division II foes Emporia State (86-49) and Washburn (66-56) to start the 2019-20 season. The Wildcats will play just one exhibition for the first time since the 2018-19 season opting instead to play a closed scrimmage with Oregon on October 23.
K-State has won 9 straight exhibitions dating to the last game of an exhibition tour of Italy and Switzerland in August 2016, while the Wildcats have won 26 exhibition games in a row at Bramlage Coliseum dating to 2003.

OPENING TIP

K-State is 69-20 all-time in exhibition play dating to 1964, including a 54-9 record at home. The Wildcats have a 48-9 record in exhibition play at Bramlage Coliseum, including 26 consecutive wins dating to 2003.
The Wildcats have 5 victories over the Gorillas in exhibition play, including an 88-69 win on Nov. 11, 2004, an 89-53 win on Nov. 8, 2009, a 75-54 win on Nov. 1, 2013, an 85-72 win on Oct. 28, 2016, and a 79-39 win on Nov. 2, 2018.
K-State has primarily played the Kansas members of the MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) since switching to Division II teams in exhibition play in 2004, which includes 7 meetings with Washburn, 5 each with Emporia State and Pittsburg State, 4 with Fort Hays State and 1 with Newman. During this stretch, the Wildcats also played Missouri State in a charity exhibition in 2017 to benefit the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.
Prior to that change, K-State mostly played traveling teams of former Division I players like Athletes First, EA Sports All-Stars and Global Sports in exhibition play from 1987 to 2005. In fact, the Wildcats' last home exhibition loss came to the EA Sports All-Stars, 79-67, on Nov. 6, 2003.
The last exhibition loss came to the Kosovo National Team, 85-74, on August 16, 2016, during the team's tour of Italy and Switzerland prior to 2016-17.
K-State won its last exhibition game with Pittsburg State, 79-39, on Nov. 2, 2018, as the Wildcats held the Gorillas to the fewest points in an exhibition in school history. Pitt State's 19.7 field goal percentage (13-of-66) was the lowest by an exhibition opponent. Dean Wade and Kamau Stokes each scored 14 points to lead all scorers. Current senior Mike McGuirl came off the bench to play 21 minutes, scoring 6 points on 2-of-6 field goals to go with 3 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal.
K-State defeated Emporia State (86-49) and Washburn (66-56) in its last two exhibition games prior to the 2019-20 season. Then senior Xavier Sneed paced all scorers with 18 points vs. the Hornets, while Makol Mawien led the way with 16 points vs. the Ichabods. McGuirl is the only Wildcat remaining to who have played in those games, posting 4 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in 22 minutes vs. ESU and 2 points, 4 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes vs. Washburn.
Pittsburg State returns 12 lettermen, including 4 starters, from a team that went 10-12 overall during the COVID-19 season of 2020-21. The Gorillas played only MIAA opponents, which included a pair of meetings with eventual NCAA champion Northwest Missouri State. Senior Bobby Arthur-Williams is the team's top returner in both scoring (12.0 ppg.) and rebounding (6.7 rpg.).
The Gorillas opened exhibition play with an 82-75 win over NAIA squad Avila (Mo.) on Friday, as junior Tyler Hawkins led with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
K-State is 14-0 under head coach Bruce Weber in exhibition play at home, including 3-0 against Pittsburg State. He is 1-0 against Pitt State head coach Kim Anderson in exhibition play, which includes the 2018 victory.

UP NEXT: FLORIDA A&M (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)

K-State will officially open the 2021-22 season on Wednesday, November 10 when the Wildcats play host to Florida A&M at 7 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats are 91-26 all-time in season openers, including 79-10 at home. This will be fifth meeting with the Rattlers and the first since a 76-58 Wildcat victory at home on Dec. 2, 2019.