STORY LINES
• The Central Missouri Mules open MIAA play as they head to Hays, Kan. on Wednesday, Dec. 5 to take on Fort Hays State at 7:30 p.m.
• The Mules are 3-6 overall in Hays against the Tigers.
• Central Missouri improved to 4-1 on the season with a 77-59 win over Quincy on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
• The Fort Hays State Tigers are 3-2 overall after a 94-39 win over Central Christian last Wednesday.
• Central Missouri enters the season as the No. 2 pick in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches' and Media Polls.
QUICK HITS
• Central Missouri is in its 108th season of basketball.
• Central Missouri is second all-time in wins in NCAA Division II with 1,567.
• UCM returns two all-MIAA performers from a season ago.
Dominique Long was a second team All-MIAA and second team NABC All-District selection after leading the Mules in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.6 rpg) in 2011-12.
Widgett Washington was an honorable mention all-conference honoree after averaging 11.9 points and 4.7 assists per game.
• The Mules return 67 percent of their scoring and 70 percent of their rebounding from last year's 19-8 team that claimed a share of the MIAA championship.
• The Mules were 19-8 a season ago and captured a share of the MIAA regular season championship.
• The 2011-12 season was the ninth straight year that Central Missouri won at least 18 games, the longest active streak in the MIAA. The longest streak in MIAA history is 11 seasons, held by NW Missouri State from 1997-2008.
SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the 18th meeting all-time between Central Missouri and Fort Hays State. The Mules lead the series 10-7 overall, including a 9-5 edge since FHSU joined the MIAA.
• The teams split last season's series with each team winning on their own home floor.
• UCM routed No. 8-ranked FHSU 78-40 in Warrensburg on January 4 and the Tigers held serve with a 67-66 last-second win in Hays on Feb. 11.
• The Mules are 3-6 against the Tigers in Hays and have lost the last two games at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
LAST MEETING WITH FORT HAYS STATE
• The Tigers got a tip-in from Karron McKenzie with two seconds left to beat the 25th-ranked Mules 67-66 in Hays on February 11, 2012.
• Central Missouri led by as many as 11 points in the first half and led by three points with 22.7 seconds remaining, but couldn't hold on.
• The Mules had possession up one with 13.7 seconds left, but a turnover gave Fort Hays State new life. After two missed shots, McKenzie got the tip-in to give the Tigers the win.
•
Dominique Long led UCM with 14 points, while
Alex Dean had 10.
• The Mules out-rebounded the Tigers 33-28, but the Mules committed 17 turnovers compared to just 11 for FHSU.
• The 17 UCM turnovers led to 23 points for the Tigers.
SCOUTING FORT HAYS STATE
• The Tigers come into the contest at 3-2 overall after a 94-39 win over Central Christian last Wednesday.
• FHSU is led by 12th year head coach Mark Johnson. A 1993 graduate of Pittsburg State, Johnson has compiled a 229-100 career mark.
• Fort Hays State is averaging 80.2 points per game and giving up just 56.2 per contest. The Tigers shoot 48 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 66 percent from the foul line.
• FHSU is led in scoring by Dwayne Brunson at 17.4 points per game. He is joined in double figures by Lance Russell and Ben Congiusta who chip in 13.2 and 11.6 points per outing, respectively.
• The Tigers are holding opponents to 34 percent shooting from the floor and just 27 percent from beyond the arc.
• FHSU out-rebounds opponents by nearly seven boards per game (42.4-35.6) and they have forced 100 turnovers in five games.
• The Tigers have dished out 99 assists on 142 made baskets this season compared to just 48 assists for the opposition.
LAST TIME OUT
• Central Missouri used a 16-2 run in the first half to break a 12-all tie with Quincy and cruise to a 77-59 win on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
• The Mules led by as many as 25 as they improved to 4-1 on the season.
• Five Mules scored in double figures with
Dominique Long,
D.J. Slifer and
Reggie Stallings all chipping in 12 points. The 12 points is a new career-high for Slifer. Stallings added eight rebounds and two steals.
•
Lance Beckwith and
Widgett Washington combined for 11 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and two steals with no turnovers.
• The Mules had 21 assists on 27 made baskets.
• UCM held Quincy to 34 percent shooting, including 6-of-27 in the first half. The Mules forced 12 Hawk turnovers as well.
• The Mules out-rebounded Quincy 39-28 and pulled down 11 offensive rebounds.
MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules are 130-58 in MIAA play during the Kim Anderson era.
• UCM was 15-5 in conference play last year earning a share of the MIAA regular season title, the fourth under Anderson.
• Central Missouri's best MIAA record under Anderson was an 18-2 mark in the 2009-10 season.
• The Mules have captured four MIAA regular season championships and three MIAA tournament titles under Kim Anderson.
MULES IN MIAA OPENERS
• The Mules are 8-2 in MIAA openers during the Kim Anderson era with both losses coming to Southwest Baptist.
• UCM has won two of their last three conference openers.
MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 96-25 in non-conference games during the Kim Anderson era and 4-1 this season after the 77-59 win over Quincy last Wednesday.
• Central Missouri is 48-1 in the last 49 non-conference games at home.
• The Mules are 35-11 in Division II non-conference regular season games under Anderson.
• UCM improved to 50-4 in the month of November during the Kim Anderson era.
THE MULES AT HOME
• Central Missouri is 131-21 at the Multipurpose Building under Kim Anderson after the 77-59 win over Quincy last Wednesday.
• Over the last eight years, UCM is 114-11 at home. Over that same time period the Mules are 48-1 against non-conference opponents at home and 66-10 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 442-88 in their 37th season playing home games at the Multi.
THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules are 59-47 in road games during the Kim Anderson era.
• UCM was 7-4 on the road last season.
THE MULES IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
• The Mules are 37-17 in neutral site games during the Kim Anderson era, including 1-1 this season after splitting a pair of games at the Bearcat Classic after Thanksgiving.
A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules a 5-1 record for the sixth straight season.
• Extend UCM's lead in the all-time series with Fort Hays State to 11-7, including 10-5 during the Kim Anderson era.
• Give the Mules three straight wins at home over FHSU and wins in six of the last seven meetings in Warrensburg.
• Give the Mules a 1-0 record in MIAA play for the second straight year and the ninth time in 11 years under Anderson.
A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• Drop the Mules to 4-2 overall for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
• Pull Fort Hays State to within 10-8 in the all-time series.
• Give the Tigers back-to-back wins over the Mules and wins in three of the last five meetings.
• Give Fort Hays State three straight wins over UCM in Hays.
• Drop the Mules to 0-1 in MIAA play for the second time in three seasons and just the third time under Kim Anderson.
MULES IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
• Central Missouri dropped from the list of others receiving votes in the latest NABC/Division II Coaches' Poll that was released on Tuesday.
• Washburn stayed at No. 2 in the polls, while Northwest Missouri moved up to 17th. They are they only two MIAA teams in the poll.
MULES PICKED SECOND IN MIAA PRESEASON POLLS
• Central Missouri is picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Poll by both the league coaches and media.
• The Mules received three first-place votes and tallied 180 points in the coaches' poll, while garnering 243 points in the media poll to come in second.
• MIAA Co-Champion Washburn is the top pick in both polls. The Ichabods received 11 of 15 first-place votes in the coaches' poll and 17 of 18 top nods in the media poll.
ANDERSON LEADING THE WAY
• Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson has compiled a career record of 226-83 (.731) in his 11th season leading the Mules.
• He has led UCM to four MIAA regular season titles, more than any other coach in school history, three MIAA tournament championships, two Regional championships and two Final Four appearances.
• Anderson recorded career win No. 200 with a 65-61 win against Washburn on February 9, 2011.
• Anderson is one of only five coaches in Central Missouri history to record 100 or more career wins - Anderson (226), Tad. C. Reid (178), Earl Keth (159), Jim Wooldridge (131) and Lynn Nance (114).
• Three of the top nine single-season scoring leaders in Central Missouri history have come during the tenure of head coach Kim Anderson.
MULES BASKETBALL HISTORY
• In the 108th season of UCM basketball the Mules have compiled a 1,567-912 (.632) record in 2,479 total games.
• The Mules have won 20 or more games 21 times in the history of the program.
• Central Missouri has won 30 or more games twice, both during the Kim Anderson era.
• The Mules are the second winningest program by victories in NCAA-II.
• UCM has won or shared 22 MIAA regular season championships and five MIAA tournament titles.
THE NEXT LEVEL
• In the Kim Anderson era, 20 former players have gone on to play professional basketball.
• Seven players are either currently playing professionally or on a professional roster - Zack Wright (Greece, Rethimno), Sanijay Watts (Germany, USC Heidelberg), Esian Henderson (Czech Republic, Levice), Manny Richardson (ABA, Battle Creek Knights), Joel Barkers (Greece, Aris Thessolonikki), Michael Hicks (Poland, Polpharma-Pakmet) and Kevin Wollbrinck (France).
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ATHLETIC ARENA
• Following the fall 2012 season, Central Missouri has won a combined 191 MIAA regular-season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• During the 2011-12 school year UCM captured seven MIAA regular season and three tournament championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 137 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won five national championships since 1980 (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, and women's bowling in 2003) and seven national championships overall.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• The 500+ Central Missouri student-athletes received 245 Academic Awards from the MIAA office for the 2011-12 academic year.
• 195 UCM student-athletes were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• 32 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned All-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 18 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had 10 student-athletes earn Academic All-America honors, including Shawn Boss being named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for Track & Field.
MULES BASKETBALL ON THE AIR
• Central Missouri basketball is broadcast live on 1450 KOKO/98.5 “The Bar” and on the Internet at www.warrensburgradio.com. 90.9 “The Bridge” will pickup the broadcast at tip-off. All games are broadcast by Senior Associate Athletic Director, Shawn Jones and 1450 KOKO/98.5 “The Bar” Sports Director, Greg Hassler.
• The Kim Anderson Mules Basketball Show, presented by Bob Showers of Ameritas Investment Corp. will air on Monday nights at 7 p.m. on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 “The Bar” and
www.warrensburgradio.com. The show begins on Monday, Nov. 19 and runs through the regular season. There will only be two shows in the month of December on the third and 10th.
• The Central Missouri Sportspage is your weekly one-hour look at UCM athletics each Thursday night at 7 p.m. on KMOS-TV. Senior Associate Athletic Director Shawn Jones will sit down with Mules head coach Kim Anderson to discuss the previous week's games as well as weekly spotlights of Mules basketball players. The show will return in January of 2013.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
• The UCM Media Network will provide live video coverage for every Central Missouri home game through a student-run webcast on AmericaOneSports.com. All home games and road MIAA games will be available on a pay-per-view basis. The cost is $8 per game, $30 for a 30-day pass or $89.95 for an all-season pass for UCM men's and women's basketball.
UP NEXT
• The Mules return home for the MIAA home-opener this Saturday, Dec. 8 at 3:30 p.m. against Emporia State.
• UCM will host William Woods in a non-conference game on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
