Box Score (KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – The second-seeded Central Missouri Mules had no answer for No. 7 seed Pittsburg State and fell 78-64 in an MIAA Tournament first round game on Friday night at Municipal Auditorium. It was the third straight opening round loss for UCM.

The Mules (19-8) never led in the game as the Gorillas (16-13) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead. Central Missouri scored four quick points on a layup from Alex Dean and jumper from Widgett Washington but that was as close as the Mules would be the rest of the night.

A 12-3 run by the Gorillas gave them a 17-7 lead with 13:30 to play in the half. The Mules trimmed the lead to seven on a Lance Beckwith three and Matt Webb bucket, but Pittsburg State pushed the lead back to 12 at the 7:00 mark. A 7-0 spurt by the Mules cut the lead to five, but the Gorillas used a 7-1 run to push the lead back to 11. UCM closed the half with six straight points and trailed 35-30 at the intermission.

Pittsburg State opened the second half on a 20-5 run to open a 55-35 lead at the 13:06 mark. The Mules started to climb back into the game using a 23-10 run to close within seven with 5:29 to play in the game, but they could get no closer. The Gorillas closed the game on a 13-6 run for the 78-64 win.

Central Missouri struggled offensively shooting just 32 percent for the game, 17-of-52, including 4-of-20 from beyond the arc. The Mules were 26-of-35 from the free throw line for 74 percent. UCM turned the ball over 13 times with just eight assists and the Mules were out-rebounded 42-29. PSU pulled down 13 offensive boards leading to 14 second chance points.

Senior Boo Hunter and Webb led the Mules with 11 points apiece. Dominique Long added 10 points. Hunter and Webb also a team-high five rebounds each.

Pittsburg State shot 48 percent from the field, 27-of-56, and made 6-of-14 three-point attempts for 42 percent. The Gorillas were 18-of-30 from the charity stripe for 60 percent.

JaVon McGee led PSU with a game-high 25 points. Eric Ray had 16 points and Rico Pierrevilus chipped in 12.

The Mules must now wait for Sunday night's NCAA-II Selection Show to see if they will make the South Central Regional. The selection show will air at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.