STORY LINES
• The Central Missouri Mules continue their short home stand hosting Northwest Missouri on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
• The Mules come in at 13-3 overall and 7-1 and in first place in the MIAA standings following a 72-60 win over Missouri Western on Wednesday night.
• Central Missouri has now won seven straight games and nine of the last 10 games overall.
• Northwest Missouri enters the game at 13-4 overall and a game back of the Mules at 6-2 in MIAA play following a 70-51 win at Southwest Baptist on Tuesday night.
• Saturday's game is Military Appreciation Day with all military personnel, active or retired, and their families receiving free admission to the game. All active personnel already receive free admission to UCM home events with the UCM Command Pass.
• Saturday's game is also Dollar Hot Dog Day presented by Sodexo.
• This weekend mark's the 10th Annual Suits and Sneakers Weekend coordinated by the Coaches vs. Cancer program. The coaching staffs from UCM and Northwest Missouri will wear tennis shoes with their suits on the bench in honor of the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative.
QUICK HITS
• Central Missouri is in its 108th season of men's basketball.
• Central Missouri is second all-time in wins in NCAA Division II with 1,576.
• The Mules are averaging 74.0 points per game and giving up 66.8 points per contest.
• Central Missouri is shooting 46 percent from the floor, but 34 percent from three-point range. The Mules give up 42 percent shooting overall and 33 percent from beyond the arc.
• In their 13 wins, UCM is holding the opposition to 40 percent shooting, while they shoot 46 percent from the field. In their three losses, the Mules have given up 50 percent shooting and have been out-rebounded by over three boards per outing.
• The Mules are forcing 15.0 turnovers per game, while committing 12.9 turnovers of their own per contest.
• The Mules were 19-8 a season ago and captured a share of the MIAA regular season championship, the fourth under head coach Kim Anderson.
• 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 207th meeting all-time between Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri. The Mules hold a 122-84 lead in the series.
• The Mules swept last season's series and have won seven straight games overall against the Bearcats.
• Central Missouri is 13-8 against Northwst Missouri during the Kim Anderson era.
• UCM is 8-3 against NWMSU at home during the Anderson era and 66-31 overall in Warrensburg against the Bearcats.
• The Mules' average margin of victory during the seven-game winning streak against NWMSU is 14.4 points per game.
LAST MEETING WITH NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Mules shot 68 percent in the second half, scoring 59 points in the frame to beat No. 14 Northwest Missouri in Maryville 76-63 on Feb. 18, 2012.
• The Bearcats led 19-17 at halftime, but the Mules out-scored NWMSU 59-44 in the second half to pull out the win.
• The win was Central Missouri's fourth straight over a ranked opponent in 2011-12.
• UCM opened the second half on a 26-9 run to grab control of the game.
• Boo Hunter led five Mules in double figures with 14 points.
Widgett Washington finished with 13 points and six assists,
Lance Beckwith had 11 points and eight rebounds as well.
Alex Dean finished with 11 points and
Dominique Long chipped in 10.
• UCM shot 48 percent for the game, including 43 percent from three-point range, while holding the Bearcats to 41 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc.
• DeShaun Cooper led NWMSU with 21 points and seven assists, while Jake Reinders chipped in 16 points and DeAngleo Hailey had 11.
SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Bearcats come into the game at 13-4 overall and 6-2 in MIAA, just one game behind UCM in the league standings. NWMSU has won back-to-back games after dropping two straight.
• Northwest Missouri is led by fourth year head coach Ben McCollum. In his time in Maryville, the NWMSU grad has compiled a 57-42 career mark.
• The Bearcats are averaging 69.5 points per game and giving up 60.1. They shoot 46 percent from the field, but 35 percent from beyond the arc.
• Opponents are shooting 41 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range.
• NWMSU out-rebounds opponents by six boards per game and they have attempted 66 more free throws.
• Dillon Starzl leads three Bearcats in double figures at 14.5 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding at 5.2 boards per outing.
• DeAngelo Hailey averages 14.4 points per contest and Alex Sullivan pours in 11.8 per game.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Mules used a 19-3 run after falling down 4-0 to open a 12-point lead over Missouri Western and they never trailed again.
• Central Missouri used a 9-3 run out of halftime to open a 10-point lead and the margin never dipped below seven the rest of the game.
•
Dominique Long and
Charles Hammork led the Mules with 15 points apiece, while
Widgett Washington had 13 points and
Matt Webb chipped in 11. Hammork and
Lance Beckwith each finished with a game-high eight rebounds, while Washington dished out six assists.
• The Mules shot 49 percent for the game and made 8-of-20 three-pointers.
• The Griffons shot 40 percent from the field, but were held to just 19 percent (4-of-21) from beyond the arc.
• The Mules were 16-of-26 from the foul line and out-rebounded the Griffons 37-33.
MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules are 137-59 in MIAA play during the Kim Anderson era and 7-1 this season after the 72-60 win over Missouri Western on Wednesday night.
• 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.
THE MULES AT HOME
• Central Missouri is 137-21 at the Multipurpose Building under Kim Anderson after the 72-60 win over Missouri Western on Wednesday night.
• Over the last eight years, UCM is 120-11 at home. Over that same time period the Mules are 49-1 against non-conference opponents at home and 71-10 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 448-88 in their 37th season playing home games at the Multi.
THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules are 61-48 in road games during the Kim Anderson era and 2-1 this season after a 63-59 win at Truman State on Saturday.
• UCM was 7-4 on the road last season.
A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules an 14-3 overall record and an 8-1 mark in MIAA play and keep them atop the MIAA standings.
• Give the Mules eight consecutive wins.
• Give the Mules 10 straight wins at home.
• Give UCM an eight-game winning streak against the Bearcats.
A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• Drop the Mules to 13-4 overall and 7-2 in MIAA play and into a first place tie with the Bearcats.
• Snap the Mules seven-game winning streak
• Snap the Mules' seven-game winning streak against Northwest Missouri.
• Be the first home loss of the season
STREAKING MULES
• The Mules are currently riding a seven-game winning streak. During that span the Mules are shooting 46 percent from the field and scoring 74.3 points per game.
• During the winning streak, UCM is allowing 66.3 points per game. Opponents are shooting 41 percent from the field, but just 25 percent from three-point range.
• Four players are averaging in double figures for UCM during the streak and eight players are averaging at least 5.0 points per game.
LONG LEADING THE CHARGE
• Senior forward
Dominique Long has moved up to 12th in the MIAA in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Last year, he finished ninth in the league at 12.7 points per contest.
• The Waynesville, Mo. native is also 10th in the league in free throw percentage at 80.9 percent. He shot 85.8 percent at the line last season, the ninth best single-season total in school history.
WEBB NEAR THE TOP IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
• Senior forward
Matt Webb leads the team and is now seventh in the MIAA in field goal percentage at 53.6 percent. He has made 52-of-97 shot attempts this season.
WASHINGTON DISTRIBUTING THE BALL
• Senior guard
Widgett Washington leads the team and is sixth in the MIAA in assists at 4.6 per game. There are eight players in the MIAA averaging 4.0 assists/game or better. Craig Nicholson of FHSU leads the league at 6.8 per game.
• On the flip side, Washington is 11th in the MIAA in steals at 1.5 per game. Teammates
Lance Beckwith and
Reggie Stallings are tied for 13th at 1.4 steals per contest.
ANDERSON LEADING THE WAY
• Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson has compiled a career record of 235-85 (.734) 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 (235), 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 1,576-914 (.633) record in 2,490 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. airs on Monday nights at 7 p.m. on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 “The Bar” and www.warrensburgradio.com. The show runs through the regular season.
• 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.
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 hit the road for four straight games starting with a trip to Jefferson City on Wednesday, Jan. 30 to take on Lincoln at 7:30 p.m.
• UCM will then travel to Lindenwood on Saturday, Feb. 2 to battle the Lions at 3 p.m.
