Box Score (WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Mules improved their early season record to 4-0 with an 86-72 win over Rockhurst on Tuesday night at the UCM Multipurpose Building. Five Mules finished in double figures.
            After Rockhurst (0-3) took an early 3-0 lead the Mules (4-0) scored 10 unanswered points to gain the lead. A 7-2 run by the Hawks pulled the lead to a within a pair. The lead then changed hands on three straight possessions before the Mules regained the lead for good at 30-27 on a three by Yavario Smith. That bucket sparked a 7-0 run to give Central Missouri a 34-27 lead with 5:23 left in the first half.
            A quick three by Brandon McCann cut the lead to 34-30. Rockhurst pulled to within a pair at 37-35 with just over three minutes remaining in the opening period, but the Mules closed the half on a 9-1 run and led 46-36 at halftime.
            A 10-4 run to open the second half gave UCM a 56-40 lead with 16:30 to play in the game. The Mules pushed the lead to as many 17 at the 13:56 mark, but Rockhurst started to climb back into the game. The Hawks out-scored the Mules 17-9 over the next six plus minutes to cut the lead to single digits at 73-64 with 7:02 left in regulation.
A lay-up by Kareem Amedu cut the lead to eight with 6:24 to play in the game, but a jumper from Smith and a dunk by Dominique Long helped push the lead back to 13 at 80-67 with 5:01 left in regulation. The lead never dipped below 10 the rest of the way and UCM came away with the 86-72 win.
Matt Webb led UCM with 18 points and 13 rebounds for the first double-double of his career. Boo Hunter had 16 points, while Smith had 14 to go along with four steals. Long and Widgett Washington each chipped in 12 points and Washington added a career-high eight assists.
            The Mules hot 53 percent from the field, 30-of-57, but were just 4-of-15 from behind the arc for 27 percent. UCM made 22-of-29 foul shots for 76 percent.
            Rockhurst had a trio of players in double figures led by Martin Roper's 16 points. The Hawks shot 42 percent from the floor, 24-of-57, and 38 percent from three point range, 6-of-16. RU was 18-of-25 from the charity stripe for 72 percent.
            The Mules forced Rockhurst into 15 turnovers, but committed 18 of their own. UCM did block seven shots and out-rebounded the Hawks 41-25.
            Central Missouri is back in action Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Quincy. MIAA play tips-off next Wednesday, November 30 at home at 7:30 p.m. against Southwest Baptist.