Box Score (BOLIVAR, Mo.) – For the second straight game the Central Missouri Mules built a double digit second half lead then withstood a late rally as they outlasted Southwest Baptist 91-80 on Saturday night at the Meyer Sports Center. The Mules have now won five straight games for the first time since 2009-10.
            The Mules (12-4, 8-3 MIAA) jumped out to a 4-0 lead on baskets by Boo Hunter and Dominique Long. A traditional three point play by Daveion Zellner pulled SBU (11-9, 4-7 MIAA) to within 4-3, but the Mules scored five straight points to grab a 9-3 lead.
            The Bearcats cut the lead to four at 12-8, but a 7-2 run by the Mules gave UCM a 19-10 lead with 13:04 to play in the half. The Bearcats responded with an 11-2 run to tie the game at 21-all with 8:23 left in the stanza. The teams traded four-point spurts with the Mules going back in front 29-25 with just under minutes to play in the half.
            The Bearcats responded with a 5-0 run and took their first lead of the game at 30-29 on a three by Jeremy Nolen. The teams traded buckets on the next two possessions before a Widgett Washington layup and a pair of free throws from Lance Beckwith put UCM in front 35-32 at the 1:01 mark. SBU tied the game on a three by Preston Guiot, but a Washington layup with two seconds left gave UCM a 37-35 halftime advantage.
            The Mules shot 53.8 percent, 14-of-26, from the field in the first half, including 3-of-6 from three point range. The Bearcats were 12-of-30 from the field for 40 percent and 5-of-11 for 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.
            The Bearcats regained the lead on their opening possession of the half on a three by Ryan Dougherty at 38-37. The Mules went back in front by three, 41-38, on a pair of buckets by Beckwith.
            The Bearcats cut the lead to one at 41-40 with 18:03 to play in the game. The Mules then caught fire and went on a 17-5 run over the next seven plus minutes to open a 58-45 lead with 11:49 to play.
            Southwest Baptist scored five quick points to pull back within single digits only to see the Mules score five straight to go back in front by 13 with 10:23 to play in the game. The Bearcats were able to slice the lead to seven with just under seven to play, but once again the Mules responded and pushed the lead back to 12 at 73-61 on a layup from Will Kirksey and a three by Long.
            Back-to-back treys from the Bearcats cut the lead to six at 73-67 with 4:34 left in regulation. After a lay-in by Beckwith gave UCM an eight point lead the teams traded free throws with just over three minutes to play. SBU trimmed the lead to four with 2:13 on the clock, but Long had a pair of free throws to push the lead back to eight.
            The Bearcats once again cut the lead to four at 79-75 with 1:20 to play, but the Mules went 10-of-10 from the charity stripe down the stretch to ice the game.
            Long led UCM with 24 points tying his career high. He also pulled down 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Beckwith finished with 19 points, while Washington had 11 and Hunter added 10.
            The Mules shot 57.7 percent from the field, 30-of-52, and 8-of-15 from three point rage for 53.3 percent. UCM was 23-of-32 from the charity stripe for 71.9 percent.
            Ryan Dougherty led Southwest Baptist with a career-high 35 points on six made three pointers. Preston Guiot had 12 points and Sloan finished with 10.
            The Bearcats shot 43.3 percent for the game, 26-of-60, and were 11-of-28 for 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. SBU was 17-of-27 from the foul line for 63 percent.
            Central Missouri out-rebounded the Bearcats 34-33. The Mules had 14 assists, but turned the ball over 16 times. UCM forced SBU into 13 turnovers.
            The Mules are back in action on Wednesday night as they travel to Joplin to take on Missouri Southern at 7:30 p.m.