Box Score (JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Central Missouri Mules used runs at the end of the first half and beginning of the second to pull away from Lincoln in a 78-58 win on Saturday afternoon at Jason Gym. The win was the ninth straight for the Mules as they stay in first place in the MIAA.
            Central Missouri (16-4, 12-3 MIAA) jumped out to an early 10-point advantage at 13-3 just over six minutes into the game. The Blue Tigers (3-17, 3-11 MIAA) quickly cut the lead to five at 13-8, but a jumper by Dominique Long spurred a 7-1 run to give UCM a 20-9 lead with 10:57 left in the half.
            Lincoln cut the lead to eight on a three by Gregory Motley, but back-to-back buckets from Yavario Smith and Widgett Washington gave UCM a 24-12 lead. After Motley made one of two free throws Long drilled a three to give the Mules their biggest lead of the half at 27-13 with 7:06 to play.
An 8-2 run by the Blue Tigers cut the lead to 29-21 with just under five minutes to play in the period. Lincoln inched closer, cutting the lead to six at 34-28, but six straight points from Lance Beckwith put UCM back in front by 12. A Dusty Allen free throw put the Mules up 13, but the Blue Tigers drilled a three right before the half to pull within 41-31 at the break.
The Mules opened the second half on a 10-0 run to open a 51-31 lead, but the Blue Tigers came right back with a 9-2 run of their own to get back within 53-40 at the 14:03 mark. The Mules got the lead back to 15, but an 8-2 run by Lincoln cut the lead to single digits at 61-52.
Boo Hunter drilled a three on the next possession as the Mules went on a 17-4 run to push the lead to 78-56 with just over a minute and a half to play.
UCM finished the game 27-of-64 from the field for 42 percent and 5-of-16 from three point range for 31 percent. The Mules were 19-of-24 from the foul line for 79 percent.
Hunter led four Mules in double figures with 18 points. Long recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Beckwith finished the game with 13 points, while Matt Webb had 11. Beckwith also chipped in seven boards and seven assists.
Cedric Ridle led the Lincoln Blue Tigers with 16 points. Matt Morris had 13 and Gregory Motley 11 as LU shot 39 percent from the floor, 23-of-58. Lincoln was 8-of-24 from beyond the arc for 33 percent and 4-of-10 from the charity stripe.
The Mules forced 16 Blue Tiger turnovers and committed just nine of their own. UCM also out-rebounded Lincoln 42-34 and had 18 offensive boards.
Central Missouri is back in action Wednesday when they travel to Topeka, Kan. for a key MIAA showdown against Washburn. Tip-off at Lee Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.