Box Score (WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Mules outlasted the Truman State Bulldogs 82-79 on Saturday afternoon at the UCM Multipurpose Building to claim a share of the 22^nd MIAA Championship in school history. The title is the second in three years and the fourth overall under head coach Kim Anderson, the most conference titles for any Mules basketball coach.

The Bulldogs (8-20, 5-15 MIAA), who were looking to qualify for the MIAA Tournament with a win jumped out to a 4-0 lead and led 6-2 before the Mules (19-7, 15-5 MIAA) scored five quick points to grab their first lead of the game at 7-6. Truman went back in front on an EJ Hicks bucket and extended the lead to five on several occasions. TSU led 21-16 when Dominique Newton and Dominique Long drained back-to-back threes to give the Mules a 22-21 lead.

The teams traded buckets the next few possessions with the Mules grabbing a 26-25 lead on a Widgett Washington layup. Will Kirksey sank a pair of free throws to give the Mules their biggest lead to that point at 28-25, but Mike Carlson drained a triple to tie the game with 3:02 to play in the half. The Mules went back in front on a Boo Hunter three-pointer, but the Bulldogs closed the half on a 6-2 run to take a 34-33 lead into the intermission.

Central Missouri got a three from Hunter out of the break to regain the lead. Alex Dean sank a pair of free throws to push the lead to 38-34. The Bulldogs cut the lead to a pair, but a 6-0 run gave the Mules a 46-38 lead with 13:38 to play.

Truman State wouldn't quit and the Bulldogs cut the lead to three with five straight points. The Mules returned the favor with a quick 4-0 run to make it 50-43 at the 12:28 mark. A jumper from Carlson and a layup by Vesko Filchev cut the UCM lead to three at 50-47, but a 5-0 run by the Mules made it 55-47 with 10:14 remaining.

Truman State once again cut the lead to three at 60-57 with just over seven minutes remaining, but a Dean free throw and Washington jumper pushed the Mule lead back to six. UCM extended the lead to nine on a pair of Long free throws and a dunk by Dean, but the Bulldogs fought back to within a pair with a 7-0 run near the 2:00 mark.

After Long made two free throws to give the Mules a 73-69 lead, the Bulldogs were whistled for a foul and a subsequent technical when the player argued with an official. UCM only made two of the four foul shot attempts and led 75-69 with 48 seconds left.

A free throw from Seth Jackson and a trey from Carlson cut the Mule lead to 75-73 with 36 ticks remaining. Lance Beckwith broke away for an easy layup on the ensuing inbounds to give the Mules a four-point lead and Dominique Newton made one of two foul shots to push the lead to five.  TSU made one of two free throws on the other end, but Hunter responded with two foul shots of his own to give the Mules a six-point lead and they would go on to claim the win and a share of the MIAA regular season title.

Long led five Mules in double figures with 18 points. Dean had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Washington had 11. Hunter and Beckwith had 10 points each.

UCM shot 46 percent, 25-of-55, for the game, including 7-of-16 from beyond the arc for 44 percent. The Mules mad 25-of-38 free throws for 66 percent.

The Bulldogs shot 49 percent for the game, 31-of-63, and made 7-of-18 three-pointers for 39 percent. TSU was 10-of-16 from the charity stripe for 63 percent. Carlson led all scorers with a career-high 34 points on 14-of-22 shooting. Hicks had 16 points and Seth Jackson chipped in 13.

With the win, UCM finishes in a three-way tie for first place with Washburn and NW Missouri State. Because of tie-breaker scenarios, the winner of the Fort Hays State/Emporia State game will determine the seeding for the MIAA Tournament.

The Mules will open play in the conference tournament next Friday in Kansas City at a time to be determined.