Box Score (QUINCY, Ill.) – The Central Missouri Mules went on the road for the first time this season and suffered their first defeat in a 76-71 setback to the unbeaten Quincy Hawks at Pepsi Arena. The Mules are now 4-1 on the season and will tip-off MIAA play on Wednesday night at 7:30 against Southwest Baptist at the Multipurpose Building.
      The game was even through most of the first half with neither team leading by more than three. Central Missouri (4-1) tied the game at 10-10 on a layup and free throw from Will Kirksey. The game was tied again at 12-all with 11:04 to play in the half when Quincy (4-0) went on an 8-0 run to grab a 20-12 lead at the 9:06 mark of the first half.
      The Mules scored four quick points to trim the lead to four at 20-16, but the Hawks were able to push the lead back to seven at 30-23 with 4:38 remaining in the opening stanza. A pair of free throws from Widgett Washington sparked the Mules to a 10-2 run as they grabbed their first lead since the early going at 33-32. The teams traded buckets on the next few possessions with QU regaining the lead at 36-35 with just over a minute to play in the half. Dominique Long nailed a trey to put UCM back in front 38-36 at the intermission.
      The Mules led 44-40 in the opening minutes of the second half, but Quincy went on an 8-0 to grab a 48-44 advantage with 16:07 left in the game. Central Missouri used a quick 5-0 run to regain a one-point lead with 14:10 to play. The lead changed hands on the next two possessions with UCM grabbing a 51-50 lead on a layup by Matt Webb.
      A 10-0 run by Quincy over the next three minutes gave the Hawks a 60-51 lead with 9:23 to play in regulation, a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
      A 10-2 run by Central Missouri pulled the Mules to within a point at 62-61 with 6:12 left in the game, but UCM couldn't quite get over the hump. Five quick points by QU pushed the lead back to six and the Mules would get no closer than three the rest of the way. A trey by Boo Hunter pulled UCM to within 71-68 with 46 seconds left, but Marshawn Norris answered with a three of his own for the Hawks to push the lead back to six with 22 seconds to play. Hunter nailed another three with eight seconds remaining, but Quincy iced the game with a pair of free throws for the 76-71 win.
      Hunter led UCM with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting. UCM shot 40 percent as a team, 25-of-62, and the Mules were 7-of-21 from three point range. UCM was 14-of-19 from the foul line for 74 percent. Long and Washington each had 12 points as well for Central Missouri and Kirksey chipped in nine points, all in the first half and a team-high seven rebounds.
      The Mules committed 15 turnovers to 13 assists and gave up 18 points off those 15 turnovers.
      Quincy was led by Norris' 22 points, including six three-pointers. Four Hawks finished in double figures as QU shot 46 percent from the field, 27-of-59. Quincy was 8-of-22 from beyond the arc for 36 percent and 14-of-16 from the charity stripe for 88 percent. QU shot 59 percent, 13-of-22, in the second half. The Hawks turned it over 16 times and each team finished with 36 rebounds.