Box Score (WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Mules held off a late Pittsburg State rally for an 84-82 win over the Gorillas on Saturday afternoon at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The victory extends UCM's winning streak to seven games.
            The Gorillas (12-8, 8-5 MIAA) jumped out to a 4-0 lead on jumpers from Andra Bailey and JaVon McGee. DJ Slifer got the Mules (14-4, 10-3 MIAA) on the board when he was fouled attempting a three and made all three attempts. Boo Hunter tied the game when his first of five first-half three pointers.
            The game was tied at 10-10 with 16:16 to play in the first half when the Mules went on a 16-4 run to open a 26-14 lead with 11:33 remaining. The Gorillas were able to cut the lead back to single digits at nine, but a quick 5-0 run by UCM pushed the lead back to 14. The Mules extended the lead to as many as 15 in the first half and led 45-33 at halftime.
            Hunter had 15 points in the half to pace the mules, while Alex Dean chipped in 10. UCM shot 48.4 percent in the half, while the Gorillas shot 53.8 percent.
            Central Missouri pushed the lead back to 15 in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Gorillas responded with a 20-3 run over a 4:36 to take a two-point lead, 53-51, with 13:50 to play in the game.
            Pittsburg State pushed the lead to as many as six at 59-53, but the Mules came right back with a 9-0 run of their own to regain the lead at 62-59. The Gorillas answered with an 8-0 run of their own to retake the lead, 66-62 with 7:37 to play in the game.
            A tip-in by Hunter ignited UCM on a 17-2 run to regain the lead for good at 79-68 with 2:39 to play. Refusing the quit, the Gorillas got a pair of free throws from Eric Ray to cut the lead to nine then forced to straight turnovers and cut the lead to four with 2:09 left.
            Lance Beckwith made one of two free throws to give the Mules a five-point advantage, but the Gorillas came right back. Ray and Widgett Washington traded buckets to keep it a five-point game, but then Ray hit a big three to cut the UCM lead to two with 1:27 on the clock.
            Dominique Long sank two foul shots to push the lead back to four, but Ray answered with two of his own from the charity stripe to bring it back to a two-point game at 84-82 with 51 seconds remaining in regulation. The Mules turned the ball over with 19 seconds left to give PSU one last shot, but strong perimeter defense prevented the Gorillas from even attempting a shot before the final horn sounded.
            Hunter led the Mules with a season-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Will Kirksey scored 12, while Washington had 11 and Dean 10.
            The Mules shot 47.2 percent from the field, 25-of-53, and 50 percent, 7-of-14, from three point range. UCM was 27-of-32 from the foul line for 84.4 percent.
            Ray led Pittsburg State with a game-high 29 points. He was joined in double figures by McGee with 12, Drake Green with 11 and Marky Nolen with 10.
            PSU shot 55.6 percent from the field, 30-of-54, and 57.1 percent, 8-of-14, from beyond the arc. The Gorillas were 14-of-16 from the free throw line for 87.5 percent.
            The Mules forced 15 Gorilla turnovers and committed 14 of their own, while dishing out 14 assists. UCM out-rebounded Pittsburg State 29-24, including 13 offensive boards that led to 14 second chance points.
            The Mules extend their season-long winning streak to seven straight games. The longest winning streak since the 2009-10 season. UCM will look to extend the winning streak to eight games, when Emporia State visits the Multi on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.