No. 3 Mules set to host Northeastern State on national television

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TIP-OFF
• The third-ranked Central Missouri Mules look to get back on the winning track as they host Northeastern State on Saturday morning at 10:05 a.m. in the CBS Sports Network Division II Game of the Week.
• The Mules are 10-1 on the season and 1-1 in MIAA play after a 72-57 loss to Central Oklahoma on Thursday night. The loss snapped UCM's 16-game winning streak dating back to last season and the 33-game home winning streak.
• The RiverHawks enter the contest at 2-7 overall and 1-2 in conference action after an 83-78 overtime loss at Missouri Western on Thursday night.
• The Mules enter the season as the top pick in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Mules were 30-5 a season ago when they captured the NCAA-II National Championship. It was the third 30-win season in program history, the seventh 20-win season in the last 12 years and the 23rd in school history.
• The 2013-14 season was the 11th straight season of at least 18 wins for UCM, the longest active streak in the MIAA and tied for the longest streak in conference history with Northwest Missouri, who accomplished the feat from 1997-2008.
• Central Missouri finished 16-3 in MIAA play last year and captured a share of the MIAA regular season championship for the third straight season. It was the sixth conference crown in the last 12 years and 24th in school history.

QUICK HITS
• This is the 110th season of Central Missouri Mules basketball.
• Central Missouri is third all-time in NCAA Division II men's basketball with 1,625 wins.
• The Mules have won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships overall (1937 & 1938 NAIB).
• The Mules are averaging 80.6 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the field. The opposition is averaging 69.7 points per game and shooting 42 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc.
• In the Mules' 30 wins last season they are averaged 81.5 points per game and shot 50.6 percent from the field. They limited opponents to 40 percent shooting and 66.2 points per game.
• In the Mules' five losses last year they averaged 75.2 points per game and shot 42 percent from the field.

SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Central Missouri and Northeastern State with the RiverHawks holding a 2-1 lead in the series after back-to-back wins.
• The RiverHawks won both meetings last season, a 72-71 win in Tahlequah and an 84-82 win in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals in Kansas City.
• The Mules won the only previous meeting in Warrensburg, a 77-69 win during the 2012-13 season, NSU's first as a member of the MIAA.

LAST MEETING WITH NORTHEASTERN STATE
• The Mules rallied from a 15-point second half deficit, but fell to Northeastern State 84-82 in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals on March 7, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri.
• The Mules scored a season-low 25 points in the first half, before scoring 57 in the second half to mount a comeback.
• Preston Brunz, Dillon Deck and Daylen Robinson all finished with 17 points to pace the UCM attack.
• Charles Hammork had a double-double 10 points and 10 rebounds.
• UCM gave up a season-high 12 three-pointers to the RiverHawks as they shot 52 percent from beyond the arc.
• Bryton Hobbs led NSU with 31 points on 7-of-19 shooting. Landon DeMasters scored 16 points and Michael Harmon chipped in 11.
• UCM held a 32-14 advantage in points in the paint and out-rebounded NSU 39-37.
• The Mules were just 18-of-30 from the free throw line for 60 percent.

SCOUTING THE RIVERHAWKS
• Northeastern State enters the final contest of 2014 at 2-7 overall and 1-2 in MIAA under first year head coach Jason Tinsley. The RiverHawks are 0-4 on the road this season.
• The RiverHawks dropped an 83-78 overtime game in St. Joseph against Missouri Western on Thursday night. The RiverHawks have lost six of their last seven games.
• NSU is averaging 74.6 points per game offensively and giving up 81.7 to the opposition. The RiverHawks shoot 40 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc, while opponents are shooting 50 percent overall and 43 percent from three-point range. Opponents have attempted 102 more free throws than NSU (275-173).
• Michael Harmon leads the way offensively for the RiverHawks averaging 19.2 points per game. He scored 14 points in Thursday night's loss at Missouri Western.
• Demone Harrison chips in 12.0 per outing as the only other NSU player in double figures.
• They give up over 40 rebounds per game and have been out-rebounded by nearly eight boards per contest.
• NSU turns the ball over 14.2 times per game, but the RiverHawks are forcing over 18 turnovers per outing.
• The Mules and RiverHawks have faced one common opponent so far this year. UCM beat Arkansas-Fort Smith 111-106 in three overtimes on Nov. 29 in Warrensburg. NSU lost to UAFS 86-40 on Nov. 25 at Fort Smith.

LAST TIME OUT • CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 72, CENTRAL MISSOURI 57 • 12/18/14
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The third-ranked Central Missouri Mules shot a season-low 29 percent from the floor and were held to just one field goal over the final 8:27 as they fell 72-57 to Central Oklahoma on Thursday night at the Multipurpose Building. The loss snaps UCM's 16-game winning streak dating back to last season and their 33-game home court winning streak.
    The Mules (10-1, 1-1 MIAA) jumped out to an early 9-6 lead in the first five minutes of the game. UCM was able to extend the lead to five at 15-10 with 13:15 to play in the half on a Tony Cochran three-pointer. The Bronchos (10-2, 3-0 MIAA) pulled to within one at 17-16, but two free throws from Dillon Deck and a jumper from Kyle Wolf once again made it a five-point lead with 10:47 to play in the opening period.
    An 11-0 run by Central Oklahoma turned a five-point UCM lead into a 27-21 deficit with 6:18 to play in the half. A Preston Brunz three cut the lead to three, but the Bronchos quickly pushed the lead to eight at 34-26 with 3:01 on the clock. TJ White scored a layup and three-pointers from Brad Woodson and Cochran tied the game at 34 heading into halftime.
    UCO opened the second half on an 8-2 run to take a lead they would never relinquish. The Bronchos pushed the lead to 10 at 50-40 with 15:50 to play in the game. A 7-3 spurt by the Mules cut the lead to six wit 12:52 to play in the game only to see UCO push the lead back to double digits at the 9:45 mark.
    Brennen Hughes scored seven straight points to  cut the Broncho lead to three at 57-54 with 8:27 to play in the game, but the Mules went cold and wouldn't score another point until a Rakeem Dickerson three with :24 left in the game. During that span the Bronchos outscored UCM 15-0 to open an 18-point lead.
    Dickerson led UCM with 16 points, but was just 5-of-17 from the floor. No other Mule finished in double figures. Hughes finished with nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
    UCM was 20-of-67 from the floor and 7-of-22 from beyond the arc for 31 percent. The Mules were 10-of-17 at the foul line for 58 percent.
    UCO shot 26-of-53 from the field for 49 percent and 9-of-16 from beyond the arc for 56 percent. The Bronchos made 11-of-20 at the foul line for 55 percent. Mahlon Jones led all scorers with 18 points and Cal Andrews chipped in 17. The Bronchos outscored the Mules 32-18 in the paint and blocked seven UCM shots.

THE MULES AT HOME
• Central Missouri is 160-22 at the Multipurpose Building over the last 13 years and 6-1 under Doug Karleskint after the 72-57 loss to Central Oklahoma on Thursday night.
• The loss to UCO snapped the Mules' 33-game home court winning streak. The last team to beat the Mules before Thursday night was UCO on February 14, 2012.
• The Mules were 13-0 at home each of the last two seasons.
• Over the last nine years, UCM is 143-12 at home, including 59-1 against non-conference opponents and 84-11 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 471-89 in their 39th season playing home games at the Multi.

MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules are 1-0 on the road this season after the 90-81 win at Fort Hays State on Dec. 4. It was the first win in Hays, Kansas since the 2009-10 season.
• UCM was 8-4 on the road last season, including 7-3 in MIAA play.

MULES IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
• UCM is 3-0 this year and 53-20 in neutral site games over the last 13 years after the 90-84 overtime win over Quincy on Nov. 25 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
• The Mules were 9-1 in neutral site games last season.

MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules are 1-1 in conference action under Doug Karleskint after the 72-57 loss to Central Oklahoma on Thursday night.
• Central Missouri is 160-67 in MIAA play over the last 13 seasons.
• UCM has won or shared 24 MIAA regular season championships and five MIAA Tournament titles.

MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 9-0 in non-conference games this season and 124-29 over the last 13 seasons after the win over Culver-Stockton on December 15.
• The Mules went 14-2 in non-MIAA games last year.
• Central Missouri is 58-1 in the last 59 non-conference home games at the Multipurpose Building.

A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules an 11-1 record overall and 2-1 in MIAA play heading into the first semester break.
• Snap a two-game skid against Northeastern State and even the overall series at 2-2.

A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• Give the Mules back-to-back losses for the first time since the 2012-13 season when they lost three straight from Feb. 2 to Feb. 9.
• Give UCM back-to-back home losses for the first time since the 2005-6 season.

BLOCK PARTY
• Senior Dillon Deck now has 47 blocked shots in his UCM career, placing him eighth all-time on Central Missouri's career blocks list. He is two blocks shy of tying Darryl Somerset and Matt Webb for sixh place on the career list.
• He blocked 32 shots last season, the eighth most in a single season in Central Missouri history.

DISHING IT OUT
• Senior point guard Rakeem Dickerson is second in the MIAA averaging 5.3 assists per game and has a 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• He has had at least five assists in eight of 11 games this season and dished out a career-high 10 in the win over Missouri S&T.

STUFFING THE STAT SHEET
• Senior TJ White has his name all over the MIAA statistic leaders sheet. Heading into this week he was sixth in the league in rebounding (6.7 rpg), first in field goal percentage (64.9), third in steals (1.9), and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (3.7).

KARLESKINT ERA OFF TO A FAST START
• Doug Karleskint is 10-1 in his first season as the head coach at Central Missouri and 100-35 (.741) overall in his fifth season as a head coach.
• He became the first Mules' head coach to start his first season at UCM 7-0.
• He spent the previous five seasons at Arkansas Tech, including the last four as head coach. He compiled a 90-34 (.726) record with the Wonder Boys with four conference championships and four trips to the NCAA-II National Tournament, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2012.

MULES IN THE POLLS
• The Mules moved up one spot to No. 3 in the latest NABC/Division II Rankings released on Tuesday. UCM had been unranked to start the season and moved up to No. 10 in the first regular season poll after starting the season 4-0. They then moved up to No. 6, No. 4 a week ago and now third.
• The Mules have been ranked in 143 polls in the history of the program, the seventh most in NCAA-II history.
• The Mules are also ranked third and receiving two first place votes in the Division II Media Poll sponsored by D2SIDA. The poll is in its first year of existence and is voted on by Division II Sports Information Directors.

MULES BASKETBALL HISTORY
• In the 110th season of UCM basketball, the Mules have compiled a 1,625-925 (.637) record in 2,550 total games.
• The Mules are the third winningest program by victories in NCAA-II history.
• Central Missouri is one of just three NCAA-II programs with 1,600 all-time wins.
• The Mules have won 20 or more games 23 times in the history of the program.
• Central Missouri has won 30 or more games in a season three times, including last year.
• UCM has won or shared 24 MIAA regular season championships and five MIAA tournament titles.

THE NEXT LEVEL
• In the past 12 years, 21 former UCM players have gone on to play professional basketball.
• Four players are either currently playing professionally or on a professional roster; Charles Hammork (Kosovo, Ylli Therande), Michael Hicks (Poland, Polpharma-Pakmet), Sanijay Watts (Germany, Dorsten) and Zack Wright (Germany, Brose Basket).

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Following the fall sports seasons, Central Missouri has won a combined 202 MIAA regular-season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured seven MIAA regular season titles, the most of any school in league history and the second time Central Missouri accomplished the feat.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 146 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won six national championships since 1980 (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003 and men's basketball in 2014) and eight national championships overall.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 220 student-athletes named to the 2013-14 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 41 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.
• 17 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had 12 student-athletes earn Academic All-Region awards in their respective sports with seven of those earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

MULES BASKETBALL ON THE AIR
• Central Missouri basketball is broadcast live on the 44,000-watt 98.5 "The Bar, 1450 KOKO and online at warrensburgradio.com. All games are broadcast by 1450 KOKO/98.5 "The Bar" Sports Director, Greg Hassler and Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Mike Knipper.
• The Doug Karleskint Show, Live from Traditions Restaurant presented by Bob Showers of Ameritas Investment Corp. will air on Monday nights at 6 p.m. on 98.5 The Bar and 1450 KOKO as well as warrensburgradio.com.
• The Central Missouri Sportspage is your weekly 30-minute look at UCM athletics each Thursday night at 7 p.m. on KMOS-TV and re-airs on Saturdays at 5 p.m.

LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
• Live video coverage for all Central Missouri home and away MIAA games will be available through Stretch Internet on a pay-per-view basis. The cost is $9.95 for a day pass or $89.95 for an all-season pass for UCM basketball. With a day pass, fans can access any MIAA game being broadcast that day. Fans can access webcasts through the GameCentral by Stretch Internet link on the UCM Athletics homepage or through the "Video" links on the Mules Basketball schedule page. Fans can also go directly to
portal.stretchinternet.com/ucmo/

UPCOMING
• The Mules are off until after the first of the year. They will travel to Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, Jan. 3 for a 7:30 p.m. tip and then to Washburn on Monday, Jan. 5 for another 7:30 p.m. game.