Mules Basketball to face Central Oklahoma in MIAA Tournament semifinals

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STORY LINES

• The second-seeded Central Missouri Mules continue their run in the MIAA Postseason Tournament facing sixth-seeded Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. in the tournament semifinals.

• The Mules enter the game at 20-7 overall after a 69-63 win over Pittsburg State in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.

• 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 PSU on Thursday night gave the Mules their sixth 20-win season under Kim Anderson and the 22nd in school history.

• Sixth-seeded Central Oklahoma comes in at 15-13 overall after a 99-88 win over third-seeded Washburn in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.

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 1,583.

• The Mules are averaging 77.6 points per game and giving up 69.7 points per contest this year.

• Central Missouri is shooting 46 percent from the floor and 35 percent from three-point range. The Mules give up 42 percent shooting overall and 34 percent from beyond the arc.

• In their 20 wins, UCM is holding the opposition to 39 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 12.4 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 eighth all-time meeting between the Mules and the Bronchos. Central Oklahoma holds a 4-3 lead in the series, including a 3-0 lead during the Kim Anderson era.

• The Bronchos beat Central Missouri 69-67 in Edmond back on February 7 in the only regular season meeting between the two schools.

• This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools in the MIAA Tournament.

LAST MEETING WITH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

• The Bronchos hit two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to beat the Mules 69-67 in Edmond back on February 7.

• UCM shot 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc, but UCO shot 42 percent and hit 10 three-pointers

• Widgett Washington led the Mules with 16 points, nine assists and four rebounds

• Charles Hammork and Dominique Long finished with 13 points apiece and Matt Webb chipped in 10 for the Mules

• The Mules had 15 assists and 15 turnovers

• Both teams finished with 35 rebounds and 28 points in the paint

SCOUTING CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

• The Bronchos entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed. They beat Southwest Baptist 103-89 in Monday's Play-In game and then beat No. 3 seed Washburn 99-88 in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.

• Central Oklahoma is 15-13 overall and finished the regular season 11-7 in MIAA play.

• The Bronchos are led by 11th-year head coach Terry Evans. He has compiled a 223-103 record during that span.

• UCO is led in scoring by Josh Gibbs' 17.6 points per game. The first team All-MIAA selection is also tied for the team lead with 6.3 rebounds per game.

• The Bronchos shoot 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. They have made 249 three-pointers this season, 80 more than their opponents.

• The opposition is shooting 44 percent against UCO and 38 percent from three-point range.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Mules used some solid defense down the stretch and held off Pittsburg State 69-63 on Thursday night in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals.

• UCM held Pitt State to 37 percent shooting from the field and 21 percent from three-point range in the win.

• The Mules were led by Matt Webb's 15 points and eight rebounds. Widgett Washington finished with 12 points and five assists and Alex Dean also had 12 points. Charles Hammork had 11 points and a pair of steals.

• UCM shot 40 percent overall, but just 22 percent from three-point range.

• The Mules outscored the Gorillas 35-26 in the paint and turned 15 PSU turnovers into a 24-8 advantage in points off turnovers. The Mules bench outscored PSU's bench 22-4.

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 39-18 in neutral site games during the Kim Anderson era, including 3-2 this season after the 69-63 win over Pittsburg State on Thursday night in Kansas City.

MULES IN THE MIAA POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT

• The Mules are 12-7 in the MIAA Tournament under head coach Kim Anderson and 30-27 all-time in the MIAA Tournament.

• The Mules are 4-0 in the MIAA Tournament semifinals under 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 - - - - -

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 13-5 5-8 12-7 30-27

A UCM WIN WOULD...

• Give the Mules a 21-7 overall record and a spot in the MIAA Tournament Championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m. against either Fort Hays State or Northwest Missouri.

• Give the Mules their first win over Central Oklahoma during the Kim Anderson era.

• Tie the all-time series with Central Oklahoma at 4-4.

• Snap a three-game losing streak against Central Oklahoma.

A UCM LOSS WOULD...

• Drop the Mules to 20-8 overall and eliminate them from the MIAA Tournament.

• Give the Mules their first loss in the MIAA Tournament semifinals under Kim Anderson.

• Drop the Mules to 0-4 against Central Oklahoma during the Kim Anderson era.

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 242-89 (.730) 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 (242), 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 1,583-918 (.633) record in 2,501 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

• If the Mules beat Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon they will play the winner of Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri in the MIAA Tournament Championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

• The NCAA Division II Men's Selection Show will air Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

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