STORY LINES
• The Central Missouri Mules look to win their sixth MIAA Tournament championship and the fourth under Kim Anderson when they play Northwest Missouri on Sunday at 1 p.m.
• The Mules enter the game at 21-7 overall after the 92-73 win over Central Oklahoma in Saturday's semifinals.
• UCM finished the regular season with a 13-5 MIAA record and a share of their second straight MIAA regular season championship. It was the fifth regular season crown under head coach Kim Anderson and the 23rd title in school history.
• The win over Pittsburg State on Thursday night gave the Mules their sixth 20-win season under Kim Anderson and the 22nd in school history.
• Fifth seeded-Northwest Missouri comes in to the game at 21-9 overall. They beat Missouri Western in Monday night's play-in game. The Bearcats then beat fourth-seeded Northeastern State in the quarterfinals and top-seeded Fort Hays State 73-66 in the semifinals.
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 1,584.
• The Mules are averaging 78.1 points per game and giving up 69.8 points per contest this year.
• Central Missouri is shooting 46 percent from the floor and 36 percent from three-point range. The Mules give up 42 percent shooting overall and 34 percent from beyond the arc.
• In their 21 wins, UCM is holding the opposition to 40 percent shooting, while they shoot 47 percent from the field. In their seven losses, the Mules have given up 48 percent shooting overall and 51 percent from beyond the three-point line.
• The Mules are forcing 13.5 turnovers per game, while committing 12.3 turnovers of their own per contest.
• This season marks the 10th straight year that Central Missouri has won at least 18 games, the longest active streak in the MIAA. The longest streak in MIAA history is 11 seasons, held by Northwest Missouri from 1997-2008.
MIAA POSTSEASON HONORS
• The Mules had three players earn All-MIAA honors. Senior forward
Dominique Long was a first team selection, senior guard
Widgett Washington earned third team honors and junior guard
Charles Hammork was an honorable mention pick by the league coaches.
• This is the second straight all-conference award for both Long and Washington and the first for Hammork.
SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the 208th meeting all-time between Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri. The Mules hold a 123-84 lead in the series.
• The Mules won the only regular season meeting 60-50 back on January 26 and have won eight straight games overall against the Bearcats.
• Central Missouri is 14-8 against Northwst Missouri during the Kim Anderson era.
• The Mules' average margin of victory during the eight-game winning streak against NWMSU is 15.1 points per game.
LAST MEETING WITH NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Mules overcame a five-point second half deficit to beat NWMSU 60-50
• UCM shot 43 percent for the game while holding the Bearcats to 33 percent shooting
• The Mules held a 28-20 advantage in points in the paint and 17 offensive rebounds led to 20 second chance points for the Mules
• DeAngelo Hailey and Grant Cozad finished with 10 points apiece to lead Northwest Missouri.
SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Bearcats entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed. They beat Missouri Western 66-46 in Monday's play-in game then beat fourth-seeded Northeastern State 69-65 in Thursday's quarterfinals. The Bearcats beat top-seeded Fort Hays State 73-66 in the semifinals.
• Northwest Missouri is 21-9 overall and finished with an 11-7 MIAA record.
• The Bearcats are led by fourth-year head coach Ben McCollum. He has compiled a 65-47 record during that span.
• NWMSU is led in scoring by DeAngelo Hailey's 14.1 points per game. Dillon Starzl is averaging 13.7 points per contest and Alex Sullivan chips in 10.9 per outing.
• The Bearcats shoot 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc.
• The opposition is shooting 43 percent against UCO and 34 percent from three-point range.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Mules built a big first half lead then held off a rally from Central Oklahoma to claim a 92-73 win in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
• UCM shot 50 percent for the game and made 11-of-25 three-pointers to advance to the MIAA Tournament Championship Game on Sunday.
• UCM held a 36-24 advantage in rebounding and a 16-2 lead in second chance points.
• The UCM bench out-scored UCO's 40-10.
• The Bronchos shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
• UCM had 17 assists on 29 made baskets and forced 13 UCO turnovers.
THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules are 143-63 in MIAA play during the Kim Anderson era and finished 13-5 this season with a share of the MIAA regular season championship. Their second straight conference crown.
• 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 five MIAA regular season championships and three MIAA tournament titles under Kim Anderson.
MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 99-26 in non-conference games during the Kim Anderson era and 7-2 this season.
• Central Missouri is 49-1 in the last 50 non-conference games at home.
• The Mules are 37-12 in Division II non-conference regular season games under Anderson.
THE MULES AT HOME
• Central Missouri is 141-21 at the Multipurpose Building under Kim Anderson after the 76-64 win over Truman on Wednesday night.
• Over the last eight years, UCM is 124-11 at home. Over that same time period the Mules are 49-1 against non-conference opponents at home and 75-10 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 452-88 in their 37th season playing home games at the Multi.
THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules are 63-51 in road games during the Kim Anderson era and 4-4 this season following the 108-91 win at Southwest Baptist on Feb. 23.
• UCM was 7-4 on the road last season.
THE MULES IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
• The Mules are 40-18 in neutral site games during the Kim Anderson era, including 4-2 this season after the 92-73 win over Central Oklahoma on Saturday in Kansas City.
MULES IN THE MIAA POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT
• The Mules are 13-7 in the MIAA Tournament under head coach Kim Anderson and 31-27 all-time in the MIAA Tournament.
• The Mules are now 5-0 in the MIAA Tournament semifinals under Anderson.
• UCM is 5-8 all-time in the MIAA Tournament championship game and 3-1 under Kim Anderson.
• The Mules have captured five MIAA Tournament championships in school history, more than any other league school. UCM has been in the championship game 13 times in the history of the tournament.
• The Mules have made the championship game four of the 10 years the tournament has been held in Kansas City.
• UCM has won three titles under Anderson, winning championships in 2004-05, 2006-07, and 2008-09, in addition to titles won in 1981-82 and 1983-84.
• The Mules have played in every MIAA Tournament since it's inception, the only school to do so.
• Overall, here is how the Mules have fared against conference opponents in the MIAA postseason tournament:
Team Quarters Semis Finals In KC Overall
Central Oklahoma - 1-0 - 1-0 1-0
Emporia State 2-0 1-0 - 1-0 3-0
Fort Hays State 1-0 - - 1-0 1-0
Lincoln - 0-1 - - 0-1
Missouri Southern 4-0 - 1-0 3-0 5-0
Missouri Western 1-3 1-1 1-1 2-0 3-5
Nebraska-Kearney - - - - -
Northeastern State - - - - -
Northwest Missouri 0-2 3-0 1-1 - 4-3
Pittsburg State 2-3 1-0 1-0 2-2 4-3
Southwest Baptist 0-1 1-0 0-2 1-1 1-3
Truman State - 2-1 - 1-0 2-1
Washburn 0-4 1-1 - 1-3 1-5
-- vs former MIAA members --
Missouri-Rolla - - 0-1 - 0-1
Missouri-St. Louis 1-0 1-0 - - 2-0
Nebraska Omaha 0-1 - - 0-1 0-1
Southeast Missouri 1-0 2-1 1-3 - 4-4
Totals 12-14 14-5 5-8 13-7 31-27
A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules a 22-7 overall record and the sixth MIAA Tournament title in school history.
• Give UCM the fourth MIAA tournament title under Kim Anderson.
• Give the Mules nine straight wins over Northwest Missouri.
• Extend the Mules' lead in the series with NWMSU to 124-84
• Give UCM an automatic bid to the NCAA-II National Tournament.
A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• Drop the Mules to 21-8 overall.
• Snap the Mules' eight game winning streak against the Bearcats.
• Drop the Mules to 5-9 all-time in MIAA Tournament championship games.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
• The Mules dropped three spots to No. 7 in this week's Central Region rankings that were released by the NCAA on Wednesday.
• The top eight teams in the final rankings on Sunday, March 10 qualify for the Central Regional tournament March 16, 17 and 19 at a campus site to be determined.
Central Region Overall Record In-Region Record
1. Minnesota State 22-4 20-4
2. Winona State 24-7 20-6
3. Augustana (S.D.) 19-7 19-7
4. Harding 18-8 18-8
5. Northeastern State 17-7 16-7
6. Upper Iowa 19-10 18-10
7. Central Missouri 16-7 16-6
8. Washburn 16-7 16-7
9. St. Cloud State 18-8 16-8
10. Arkansas Tech 15-10 15-10
ANDERSON LEADING THE WAY
• Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson has compiled a career record of 243-89 (.732) in his 11th season leading the Mules.
• He has led UCM to five MIAA regular season titles, including this year, 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 (243), 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 1,584-918 (.633) record in 2,502 total games.
• The Mules have won 20 or more games 22 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 history.
• UCM has won or shared 23 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.
UP NEXT
• The NCAA Division II Men's Selection Show will air Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
