Box Score (WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Mules pulled away in the second half for a 76-61 win over Emporia State on Wednesday night at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The win extends the Mules' winning streak to eight games, the longest streak since UCM won 12 straight during the 2009-10 season. The win also moves the Mules into sole possession of first place in the MIAA.
            The Mules (15-4, 11-3 MIAA) jumped out to a 7-4 lead only to see Emporia State (8-12, 4-10 MIAA) go on a 9-1 run to go in front 13-8 with 12:52 to go in the half. A quick 5-0 spurt by the Mules tied the game only to have ESU go back in front on a three by Travis Dykman. The teams traded buckets over the next several minutes with the Hornets holding a slight lead.
            The Mules tied the game at 20 on a pair of Dominique Long free throws only to see the Hornets regain the lead with 3:37 to play in the half. Alex Dean made a pair from the foul line to tie the game then Boo Hunter put UCM in front with a pair of his own.
            The Hornets tied the game at 24 on a pair from the charity stripe, but UCM scored six of the final eight points of the half to lead 30-26 at the intermission.
            Central Missouri used a quick 6-0 run of the break to open a 10 point advantage. A bucket by ESU cut it to eight, but four quick points gave the Mules a 40-28 lead with 16:44 to play in the game.
            The Hornets got the lead back to single digits, but a layup by Widgett Washington followed by a pair of free throws pushed the lead to 13 with 14:15 left in the game. Emporia State cut the lead back to 10 at the 12:31 mark, but a traditional three-point play from Dean and a jumper from Washington gave UCM its biggest lead of the game to that point at 15. A 7-2 run by ESU cut the lead to two, but a thunderous dunk by Dean on a lob from Washington put the lead back to 12 and brought the crowd to its feet.
            The Hornets again cut the lead under 10 with a quick spurt, but a pair of foul shots from Matt Webb and a three by Hunter as the shot clock was winding down pushed the lead back to 14 with just under three minutes to play.
            The lead never dipped below 12 the rest of the way as the Mules captured their eighth straight win and moved into sole possession of first place by one half game over NW Missouri State.
            Dean led UCM with a career-high 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting. He also added six rebounds. Washington and Webb had 12 each for the Mules and Hunter finished with 11. Washington added a game-high seven assists.
            Central Missouri shot 51.1 percent from the floor, 24-of-47, but struggled to just 18.2 percent from three-point range, 2-of-11. UCM was 26-of-29 from the foul line and out-rebounded the Hornets 33-27.
            Tola Lawal led three Hornets in double figures with 15 points. Troy Pierce finished with 13 points and Chris Sights had 12. ESU was 24-of-58 from the field for 41.4 percent and 5-of-18 from beyond the arc for 27.8 percent. The Hornets made 8-of-11 attempts from the charity stripe.
            The Mules had 10 assists to eight turnovers and forced ESU into 12 giveaways. The Mules also had five blocks and five steals.
            Central Missouri is back in action Saturday afternoon at Lincoln. Tip-off in Jefferson City is set for 3 p.m.