Pitt State Basketball

John Lance Arena

The Pittsburg State university Gorillas make their home in the John Lance Arena, which also is affectionately known as "The Pitt" and "The Jungle".

The Gorillas have built a decisive home court advantage in John Lance Arena. Since the 1991-92 season, Pittsburg State has posted a 191-81 (.725) record in egular season competition and a 196-87 (.714) overall record, including post season play.

Pittsburg State consistently has been ranked among the top 25 schools in NCAA Division II for home-court attendance. Last season, PSU averaged 1,259 fans per game.

As a conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association ranked second in NCAA Division II, averaging 1,312 fans per game. The MIAA ranked 12th among all NCAA conferences, ranking behind only 10 Division I conferences and the now disbanded, Division II North Central Conference in attendance last year.

John Lance Arena is named in honor of legendary head coach John Lance, who won 582 games during his illustrious career at Pittsburg State and 656 games overall.

Lance, a candidate for enshrinement into the College Basketball Hall of Fame, led the Gorillas to an amazing 47 consecutive victories during one stretch of his 40-year tenure that spanned from 1923 until 1963. PSU was 20-0 during the 1929-30 campaign and 21-0 the following year. The streak finally ended in the seventh game of the 1931-32 season when the Gorillas were defeated by Henry Iba's Northwest Missouri State University squad, 20-18.

Pittsburg State began play at John Lance Arena during the 1971-72 season. The Gorillas posted a 69-67 victory against Missouri Southern State College in the first game played on the John Lance Arena hardwood on Dec. 4, 1971. The PSU women won their first home game on Jan. 24, 1976, defeating Newman (59-51) after losing their first 10 home games. The Gorillas have posted a 271-149 (.645) overall record.

John Lance Arena (Records/Milestones)

Overall Home Record: 286-178 (.616)

Win No. 1:   vs. Newman (59-51), Jan. 24, 1976
Win No. 100: vs. Mo.-St. Louis (83-80), Feb. 3, 1990
Win No. 200: vs. Mo. Southern (80-45), Feb. 16, 2000

Decade By Decade
1970s: 16- 39 (.291)   1990s: 102- 30 (.773)
1980s: 71- 44 (.617)   2000s: 114- 75 (.603)