Box Score (CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.) – The Central Missouri Mules put a scare into the Division I Austin Peay Governors, but came up short losing 107-96 in their exhibition opener on Thursday night at the Dunn Center. UCM led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but a big second half from Austin Peay proved to be the difference.
            Austin Peay jumped out to an early 7-5 advantage a little over 90 seconds into the game. The Mules got back to within 9-8 on a jumper by Yavario Smith with 16:55 to play in the opening half, but a 7-2 run by the Governors gave APSU a 16-10 lead with 15:45 to play in the half.
            The Mules used a 9-2 run to grab a 19-18 lead on a Reggie Stalling jumper with 12:55 to play in the opening stanza. The Governors quickly regained the lead at 20-19, but a three by DJ Slifer put UCM back in front 22-20. The Mules pushed the lead to five at 29-24 with 9:19 to play only to see Austin Peay trim the lead back to a pair on a three by Tyshawn Edmondson.
            The teams traded buckets over the next four plus minutes and the Mules led 40-37 with five minutes to play in the half. A trey by Boo Hunter sparked a 12-3 run that gave the Mules a 52-40 lead with just over two minutes to play in the half. APSU outscored UCM 9-5 over the last 2:22 and the Mules led 57-49 at the half.
            The Governors opened the second half on a 16-9 run to pull within one at 66-65. A layup by Will Kirksey put the Mules back in front by three, but APSU scored six of the next eight points to regain the lead 71-70. Kirksey gave the Mules the lead right back with another lay-in. After Austin Peay regained the lead at 73-72, UCM came right back with a 7-2 run to take a 79-75 lead with 11:16 to play in the game.
            An 8-0 run by Austin Peay put the Governors in front for good at 83-79. The Mules got back to within one at 85-84 on a three by Smith, but could get no closer. APSU used a 10-1 run to create some breathing room at 95-85. The Governors outscored the Mules 12-11 the rest of the way after that and posted the 107-96 win.
            The Mules shot 51 percent from the floor (37-of-73), but gave up 59 percent to APSU (36-of-61). UCM was 10-of-30 from beyond the arc for 30 percent and 67 percent (12-of-18) from the foul line compared to 29-of-38 (78 percent) from the charity stripe for the Governors. APSU was 6-of-9 from three point range and out-blocked the Mules 8-0. Each team had 34 rebounds.
            Dominique Long led Central Missouri with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He also pulled down five rebounds. Four other Mules scored in double figures. Hunter had 16, Lance Beckwith finished with 15 points, Kirksey had 13 and Stallings chipped in 10. Kirksey also led the team in rebounding with seven boards.
            Austin Peay had six players finish in double figures led by Josh Terry's 20 points.
            The Mules are back in action on Monday night at Missouri. Tip-off for the final exhibition game of the season is slated for 7 p.m. from Mizzou Arena.