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STORY LINES
• The 19th-ranked Central Missouri Mules wrap up the regular season hosting Northwest Missouri on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building. A win over the Bearcats would give UCM a share of the MIAA regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the MIAA Tournament.
• The Mules are coming off an 80-57 win at Missouri Western on Wednesday night. The win secured a top two seed for the Mules in the MIAA Tournament and kept them within a game of league-leading Northwest Missouri.
• The Mules are seeking their third straight MIAA regular season championship. It would be the first time in school history the Mules have won three straight conference crowns. It would be the sixth conference title under head coach Kim Anderson and the 24th in school history.
• The Bearcats beat Southwest Baptist 89-62 on Wednesday night to clinch at least a share of the MIAA regular season championship.
• Entering the game the Mules sit alone in second place in the MIAA standings, a game and a half ahead of third place Missouri Southern and one game behind first place Northwest Missouri.
• The Mules moved up three spots to No. 2 in the latest NCAA-II Central Region Rankings released on Wednesday afternoon.

QUICK HITS
• This is the 109th season of Central Missouri Mules basketball.
• Central Missouri is third all-time in NCAA Division II men's basketball with 1,608 wins.
• In the Mules' 23 wins this season they are averaging 82.8 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the field. They are limiting opponents to 41 percent shooting and 65.3 points per game.
• In the Mules' four losses they are averaging 73.5 points per game and shooting 42 percent from the field.
• The win over Southwest Baptist on Feb. 6 gave UCM 18 wins on the season. It marks the 11th straight season of at least 18 wins for the Mules, which ties the MIAA record for the longest streak in conference history. The Mules tied Northwest Missouri, which accomplished the feat from 1997-2008.
• The Mules were 22-8 a season ago, the sixth 20-win season under Kim Anderson and the 22nd in school history.
• Central Missouri finished 13-5 in MIAA play last year and captured a share of the MIAA regular season championship for the second straight season. It was the fifth conference crown under Anderson and 23rd in school history.
• Three of the top nine single-season scoring leaders in UCM history have come during the 11-year tenure of head coach Kim Anderson.

SERIES HISTORY VS NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• This will be the 210th all-time meeting between the Mules and the Bearcats. Central Missouri leads the series 124-85.
• Northwest Missouri's 80-68 win back on January 18 snapped a nine-game winning streak in the series for UCM.
• The Mules lead the series 15-9 during the Kim Anderson era.
• UCM leads the series 67-31 in games played in Warrensburg, including a 9-3 mark under Anderson.
• Central Missouri has won five straight games against NWMSU at the Multi.

LAST MEETING WITH NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Mules shot a season-low 36 percent from the field, going just 20 of 55 from the floor and 5 of 18 from three-point range in an 80-68 loss at Bearcat Arena. The loss snapped the Mules's nine-game winning streak against the Bearcats.
• The Mules had just five assists in the game compared to 10 turnovers.
• Daylen Robinson led UCM with 21 points, while Dillon Deck chipped in 14.
• Northwest Missouri shot 53 percent from the field and made 8 of 16 three-pointers.
• DeShaun Cooper led five Bearcats in double figures with 16 points to go along with five assists. Dillon Starzl had 15 points, while Conner Crooker and Zach Schneider chipped in 14 points apiece and Grant Cozad finished with 10.
• The Mules forced 14 NWMSU turnovers and turned those into 18 points.
• Both teams had 32 rebounds in the game.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
• Northwest Missouri enters the game at 21-6 overall and 16-2 in MIAA play following an 89-62 win over Southwest Baptist on Wednesday night. With the win, the Bearcats clinched at least a share of the MIAA regular season championship.
• NWMSU has won three straight games and 13 of their last 14.
• NWMSU averages 82.2 points per game offensively on 51 percent shooting. The Bearcats shoot 44 percent from three-point range and 75 percent at the free throw line.
• Opponents are averaging 68.7 points per outing and shooting 45 percent from the field. The Bearcats hold the opposition to just 37 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
• Northwest Missouri is out-rebounding opponents by over five boards per game, while averaging 34.3 rebounds per contest.
• They've dished out 117 more assists than their opponents and forced 44 more turnovers.
• Five Bearcats average in double figures led by DeShaun Cooper's 16.6 points per game. Dillon Starzl averages 14.7 points per contest and a team-leading 5.4 rebounds per outing.
• Conner Crooker (12.0 ppg), Grant Cozad (10.4) and Bryston Williams (10.3) also average in double figures.

LAST TIME OUT • CENTRAL MISSOURI 80, MISSOURI WESTERN 57 • 2/26/14
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The No. 19-ranked Central Missouri Mules cruised to an 80-57 win over Missouri Western on Wednesday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse. The win improves UCM's record to 23-4 overall and 15-3 in MIAA play.
    The Mules jumped out to an early 13-7 lead. UCM extended the lead to nine at 21-12 with just over nine minutes to play in the half. The Griffons (10-16, 5-13 MIAA) clawed their way back with a 10-2 run to pull within 23-22 at the 6:58 mark.
    A 7-0 run for Central Missouri pushed the lead back to seven at 30-23 with 2:50 to go in the opening half. At halftime the Mules led by six, 32-26.
    The Griffons got to within three at 34-31 early in the second half, but a 12-0 run by UCM gave the Mules a 46-31 lead with 14:46 left in the game. An 11-2 run later in the half gave the Mules a 20-point lead 57-37 and the rout was on.
    The Mules pushed the lead to as many as 24 before setting for the 80-57 victory.
    Dillon Deck led UCM with a career-high 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Daylen Robinson and Ryan Magdziarz both added 10 points.
    The Mules shot 53 percent for the game going 33 of 62 from the field. UCM was 6 of 16 from beyond the arc for 38 percent and 8 of 19 at the foul line for 42 percent.
    UCM out-rebounded the Griffons 39-29 and held a 40-14 advantage in points in the paint.
    MWSU was 17 of 48 from the field for 35 percent, including 5 of 17 from three-point range for 29 percent. The Griffons were 18 of 25 at the foul line for 72 percent.
    Missouri Western was led in scoring by Kalvin Balque's 15 points.
    UCM dished out 17 assists in the win and committed just six turnovers, while forcing 11 MWSU giveaways.

THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• Central Missouri is 158-66 in MIAA play during the Kim Anderson era and 15-3 this season after the 80-57 win at Missouri Western on Wednesday.
• The Mules were 13-5 in conference play last year and won a share of the MIAA regular season title for the second straight season.
• The Mules' best MIAA record under Anderson was an 18-2 mark during the 2009-10 season.
• The Mules have captured five MIAA regular season championships and four MIAA tournament titles under Kim Anderson.

MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 109-28 in non-conference games during the Kim Anderson era, including an 8-1 mark this season.
• Central Missouri is 53-1 in the last 54 non-conference games at home.

STREAKING MULES
• For the third straight season Central Missouri has a winning streak of nine games. The Mules are shooting 54 percent from the field and averaging 82.9 points per game during the current streak.
• The average margin of victory during the streak has been 18.6 points per game.
• The Mules have not lost since their game at Northwest Missouri back on Jan. 18.

MULES IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
• Central Missouri moved up five spots in this week's NABC/Division II Coaches' Poll to No. 19.
• The Mules have been ranked in 137 polls in the history of the program, the seventh most in NCAA-II history.
• This is Central Missouri's third week in the rankings this season.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
• The Mules moved up three spots to No. 2 in the latest Central Region rankings that were released by the NCAA on Wednesday afternoon.
• The top eight teams in the final rankings on Sunday, March 9 qualify for the Central Regional tournament March 15, 16 and 18 at a campus site to be determined.
    Central Region    Overall DII Record    In-Region Record
    1. Minnesota State-Mankato    21-4    20-3
    2. Central Missouri    18-4    18-3
    3. Northwest Missouri State    17-6    17-5
    4. Missouri Southern State    16-5    14-5
    5. Winona State    19-5    19-5
    6. Fort Hays State    19-5    19-5
    7. Arkansas Tech    16-7    16-7
    8. St. Cloud State    16-7    16-7
    9. Central Oklahoma    13-7    13-7
    10. Minnesota State-Moorhead    15-7    15-7

THE MULES AT HOME
• Central Missouri is 153-21 at the Multipurpose Building under Kim Anderson after beating Lincoln at home on February 12.
• The Mules were 13-0 at home last season and have won 26 straight games at the Multi dating back to the 2011-12 season.
• Over the last nine years, UCM is 136-11 at home, including 53-1 against non-conference opponents and 83-10 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 464-88 in their 38th season playing home games at the Multi.

THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules are 8-4 on the road this season, including 7-3 in MIAA play, after the win at Missouri Western on Wednesday night.
• The Mules are one of just four MIAA teams to have a winning road record during conference play.
• UCM is 71-56 on the road during the Kim Anderson. The Mules were 4-5 on the road last season.

 DISHING IT OUT
• Senior guard Daylen Robinson moved into a tie for seventh place on UCM's single-season assist list with 149 when he dished out six assists in the win at Missouri Western. He is four assists shy of sixth place on the single-season list and 11 shy of fifth place.
• He is fourth in the MIAA in assists per game at 5.5

SWATTING HIS WAY
• Junior forward Dillon Deck has registered 25 blocks this year. He is four blocks away from cracking UCM's top 10 single-season list.

A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules a 24-4 overall record and a 16-3 mark in MIAA play and a share of the MIAA regular season championship with Northwest Missouri.
• Give the Mules three straight MIAA regular season championships for the first time in school history.
• Would give the Mules the No. 1 seed in the MIAA Tournament.
• Give the Mules 10 straight wins overall and 27 straight home wins.
• Give UCM 10 wins in the last 11 meetings with the Bearcats and a 125-85 lead in the all-time series with Northwest Missouri.

A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• Drop the Mules to 23-5 overall and 15-4 in MIAA play and give UCM a second place finish in the MIAA.
• Snap Central Missouri's nine-game winning streak.
• Snap the Mules' 26-game home court winning streak and give the Bearcats a sweep of the season series.

KANSAS CITY HERE WE COME
• With the win over Lindenwood on Feb. 22, the Mules clinched a bye to the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals in Kansas City.
• Central Missouri has made the MIAA Tournament every year since it's inception, the only school to do so.
• The Mules are 32-27 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and 14-7 under Kim Anderson after going 3-0 and winning the tournament championship last season.
• This year's tournament will begin on Tuesday, March 4 with seeds No. 5-12 playing play-in games at the higher seeded school. The winners of those four games will advance to play at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium March 7-9 along with the top four teams in the league, who all receive byes to Kansas City. Men's quarterfinal action will tip-off on Friday, March 7.

ANDERSON LEADING THE WAY
• Now in his 12th season leading the Mules, Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson has compiled a career record of 267-94 (.740).
• His .731 winning percentage entering the 2013-14 season ranks seventh among all active NCAA Division II coaches.
• He has led UCM to five MIAA regular season titles, more than any other coach in school history, four 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 (267), 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 109th season of UCM basketball the Mules have compiled a 1,608-923 (.635) record in 2,531 total games.
• The Mules are the third winningest program by victories in NCAA-II history.
• Central Missouri became just the third NCAA-II program with 1,600 all-time wins.
• The Mules have won 20 or more games 23 times in the history of the program, including this season.
• Central Missouri has won 30 or more games in a season twice, both during the Kim Anderson era.
• UCM has won or shared 23 MIAA regular season championships and five MIAA tournament titles.

THE NEXT LEVEL
• In the Kim Anderson era, 23 former players have gone on to play professional basketball.
• Four players are either currently playing professionally or on a professional roster; Michael Hicks (Poland, Polpharma-Pakmet), Reggie Stallings (Rochester Razor Sharks), Sanijay Watts (Germany, Dorsten) and Zack Wright (Greece, Panathinaikos Athens).

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Following the 2013 fall seasons, Central Missouri has won a combined 196 MIAA regular-season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured three MIAA regular season titles and one tournament championship.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 142 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 550 Central Missouri student-athletes received 375 Academic Awards from the MIAA office for the 2012-13 academic year.
• 305 UCM student-athletes were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• 37 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.
• 33 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had eight student-athletes earn Academic All-America honors in their respective sports, including Brent Vogel being named the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for Men's Track & Field.

MULES BASKETBALL ON THE AIR
• Central Missouri basketball is broadcast live on the new 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.
• The Kim Anderson Show presented by Bob Showers of Ameritas Investment Corp. airs on Monday nights at 7 p.m. on 98.5 The Bar and 1450 KOKO as well as warrensburgradio.com.
• The Central Missouri Sportspage is your weekly one-hour look at UCM athletics each Thursday night at 7 p.m. on KMOS-TV.

LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
• Live video coverage for every Central Missouri home game will be available through America One Sports. 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. Fans can access webcasts through the AmericaOneSports link on the UCM Athletics website or by going to AmericaOneSports.com.

UPCOMING
• The Mules open MIAA Tournament play on Friday, March 7 as either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed. If UCM is the No. 1 seed, they would play at 12 p.m. on Friday, if the Mules are the No. 2 seed then they would play at 6 p.m.