Box Score (WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Mules struggled offensively and came up a bit short in their upset bid of No. 2 Missouri Southern falling 72-64 on Saturday afternoon at the UCM Multipurpose Building. UCM shot 28.8 percent for the game, including 25 percent in the second half after leading by one at the break.
            Dominique Long put the Mules (5-2, 1-1 MIAA) in front 5-4 in the early going with a three at the 16:28 mark, but the Lions (8-0, 2-0 MIAA) went back in front with a 6-0 run to lead 10-5. The game see-sawed back and forth through much of the first half with Central Missouri grabbing its biggest lead of the half at 18-14 with 10:31 remaining in the half.
            A 6-0 run by the Lions put MSSU back in front 22-20 with 6:26 left in the opening stanza. Missouri Southern pushed the lead to four at 25-21 at the 3:57 mark on a jumper by Jordan Talbert and a free throw from Jason Adams. The lead was still four when the Mules closed the half on a 7-2 run to take a 30-29 lead into the intermission.
            UCM shot 32.4 percent, 12-of-37, in the first half, including 3-of-10 from behind the three point line.
            The Lions opened the second half on a 6-0 run to grab a 35-30 lead. Boo Hunter made the Mules' first field goal of the half, a three at the 15:42 mark, to pull within 35-33.
            A 6-2 run by Missouri Southern pushed the lead to six at 41-35 with 13:33 to play in the game, but UCM responded with an 8-0 run to regain the lead at 43-41 with just over 11 and half minutes to play in regulation.
            The Lions regained the lead for good on a three by Adams at the 10:43 mark. The lead was stuck at two when Missouri Southern got a quick 7-1 run to open its largest lead up to that point at 60-52 with 5:07 to play.
            The Mules trimmed the lead to five on a traditional three-point play by Matt Webb, but MSSU went on a 12-5 run over the next four minutes to put the game away at 72-60. Washington scored a layup with just over 30 seconds to play and another layup 10 seconds later to pull back within eight, but the Lions beat the UCM press and were able to run out the clock for the eight-point win.
            Washington led UCM with 17 points, while Long had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Hunter chipped in 12. Webb had eight points and a game-high 12 boards as well.
            The Mules struggled to a season-low 28.8 percent shooting night, 21-of-73. They were 5-of-16 from three point range and 17-of-24 for 70.8 percent from the charity stripe.
            Missouri Southern shot 39.4 percent for the game and the Lions were paced by Adams' 22 points and 10 rebounds. Keane Thomann added a double-double as well with 14 points and 10 boards. Talbert poured in 17 for the Lions as well. MSSU was 2-of-7 from three point range and 18-of-21 for 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
            The Lions out-rebounded the Mules 49-46 and blocked 10 UCM shots, while forcing 12 turnovers.
            The Mules will take a week off for final exams and return to action next Saturday at Emporia State at 7:30 p.m.