Box Score (XML) | Box Score (HTML) | Season Stats

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Central Missouri Mules saw their losing streak reach three games with a 93-81 loss at Missouri Southern on Saturday night. The Lions shot 51 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range as they had an answer for every Mules run in the game.

The Lions (10-10, 5-7 MIAA) jumped out to an early 12-2 lead and extended the lead to 11 with 10:21 left in the half. The Mules (15-5, 9-3 MIAA) responded with a 15-2 run to grab their first lead of the game at 21-19 with 6:56 left in the half, but the Lions came right back with a run of their own. MSSU went on a 12-2 run over the next 1:49 to take a 31-23 lead.

The Mules got back to within six at 35-29 with just under three and a half to play in the opening period, but the Lions scored eight of the final 12 points of the half and went into the intermission with a 43-33 advantage.

Missouri Southern opened up a 14-point lead at 51-37 in the early portions of the second half, but the Mules used an 8-0 run to pull within 51-45 with 14:37 to play in the game. As they did earlier, the Lions came right back and quickly pushed the lead back to 10. UCM got back to within six at the 13:01 mark, but once again MSSU pushed the lead back to double digits with four straight points.

The teams traded buckets up and down the court as the Lions led 67-57 with 9:37 to play in the game. UCM was within nine at 67-58 when MSSU went on an 8-1 run to open a 16-point lead with 6:49 to play. The Mules used a 10-2 run to get within eight with 4:02 to play, but they could get no closer as the Lions iced the game at the foul line.

Widgett Washington led the Mules with 19 points and seven assists. Alex Dean had 17 points and Dominique Long had 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Charles Hammork finished with 11 points and Matt Webb chipped in 10. 

The Mules shot 52 percent from the field (35-of-68), but just 17 percent from three-point range (3-of-18). UCM was 8-of-11 from the foul line for 73 percent.

RJ Leverette led MSSU with 23 points and Marquis Addison had 20. Jordan Talbert chipped in 11 points for the Lions and Cameron Cornelius finished with 10. 

MSSU shot 51 percent from the field (34-of-67) and made 6-of-12 from beyond the arc for 50 percent. The Lions were 19-of-23 at the foul line for 83 percent.

UCM out-rebounded MSSU 37-32 and had a 54-44 advantage in points in the paint, but the Lions turned 15 UCM turnovers into 18 points.

The loss drops the Mules into a tie for first place in the MIAA at 9-4 with Fort Hays State.