Box Score (WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Mules built a double digit second half lead then withstood a late charge from Southwest Baptist to win 75-70 on Wednesday night at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The Mules led by as many as 12 in the second half only to see the Bearcats trim the lead to three in the final minute.
            Central Missouri (5-1, 1-0 MIAA) jumped out to a fast start taking a 10-2 lead with just over four minutes gone in the opening half. A 7-2 run by the Bearcats (6-3, 0-1 MIAA) trimmed the lead back to three with 12:56 to play in the first half. The lead was still sitting a three a minute later when UCM went on an 8-2 run to push the lead to nine at 24-15 with 6:35 left in the opening stanza.
            The Bearcats responded with a 13-2 run of their own to grab their first lead of the game at 27-26 with 2:13 to play in the half. The lead changed hands on successive possessions before UCM went back in front on a three by Widgett Washington with just over a minute remaining. Washington added a tip-in with under 10 seconds left in the half to give UCM a 33-30 lead at the intermission.
            A quick 5-0 run out of the break gave SBU a 35-33 lead with just over a minute off the clock in the second half, but the Mules quickly tied things up on a layup by Washington.
            The Bearcats went back in front 37-35 on a tip-in by Daveion Zellner, but Central Missouri went back in front for good on a 10-0 run, all scored by Yavario Smith. He hit a jumper to tie the game, and then a three to put UCM in front for good at 40-37. Smith added another three on the next possession and finished off the run with a steal and fast break lay-in to give the Mules a 45-37 lead.
            The Mules led 52-47 after a three by Preston Guiot with 10:34 to play in the game, but a 7-0 run gave the Mules their biggest lead of the night at 59-47 with 8:45 left in regulation.
            The Bearcats battled back trimming the lead to 64-56 with 5:16 to play in the game. A jumper by Dominique Long pushed the lead back to 10, but a pair of threes by SBU trimmed the lead to 67-62 with 3:34 to play in the game.
            UCM extended the lead back to eight, but the Bearcats, aided by the Mules going 4-of-10 from the foul line, were able to pull to within three at 73-70 with 18 seconds remaining. Matt Webb hit 1-of-2 from the foul line to make it a two possession game and Washington made 1-of-2 as well to make it 75-70. He missed the second free throw, but was able to get his own rebound and run out the clock for the win.
            Washington led UCM with a career-high 25 points. Webb recorded his second double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Smith had a career-high 16 points.
            The Mules host 48.2 percent, 27-of-56, from the floor and were 5-of-14 from beyond the arc for 35.7 percent. UCM was just 16-of-30 from the charity stripe for 53.3 percent.
            The Bearcats were led by Robson Memnon's 25 points and 11 rebounds. Jake Littrel added 10 points as SBU shot 40.8 percent, 29-of-71, from the field. Southwest Baptist was 8-of-29 for 27.6 percent from three point range and made 4-of-10 foul shots for 40 percent.
            UCM out-rebounded SBU 44-37 and forced 16 turnovers, but did commit 19 of their own. The Mules are now 8-2 in conference openers under Kim Anderson and 10-0 under Anderson in conference home openers.
            The Mules are back in action Saturday afternoon with a key MIAA matchup against No. 2-ranked Missouri Southern. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building.