Box Score (COLUMBIA, Mo.) – An 16-2 run in the first half proved to be too much to overcome as the Central Missouri Mules fell 88-70 to the Missouri Tigers on Monday night in the final exhibition game for both teams. The Mules open the regular season on Saturday night at home against Westminster at 7 p.m.
      The Mules took an early 6-0 lead on back-to-back three pointers by Reggie Stallings, but the Tigers used an 11-2 run to take the lead 11-8. The Mules kept battling and took a 17-15 lead on a pair of Matt Webb free throws with 12:18 to play in the half. The Tigers took control from there using a 16-2 run to grab a 31-19 lead with 7:03 to play in the opening stanza.
      The Mules pulled to within nine, but Missouri closed the half on a 15-7 run and led 46-28 at the half.
      The second lead hovered around the 20-point margin for much of the half with the Mules hanging tough. UCM got back to within 15 on a pair of free throws from Dominique Long, but could get no closer. The Tigers outscored the Mules 13-10 the rest of the way for the 18-point win.
      Webb led four UCM players in double figures with 18 points. He also pulled down five rebounds as the Mules were out-rebounded 33-31. Long finished the game with 13 points, while Boo Hunter had 11 and Stallings finished with 10.
      The Mules finished the game 24-of-54 for 44 percent from the field and 6-of-17 for 35 percent from behind the arc. UCM was 16-of-22 from the foul line for 73 percent.
      The Tigers were led in scoring by Ricardo Ratliffe's 21 as Missouri out-scored the Mules 44-24 in the paint. Five Tigers finished in double figures as MU shot 52 percent, 33-of-64, from the floor and 8-of-19 from behind the three point line for 42 percent. The Tigers were 14-of-17 for 82 percent.
      The Mules will open the regular season on Saturday night at home hosting Westminster at 7 p.m. at the Multipurpose Building.