STORY LINES
• The 20th-ranked Central Missouri Mules open NCAA-II Central Region action as the No. 2 seed on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against seventh-seeded Arkansas Tech from the Great American Conference.
• The Mules were knocked out of the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals with an 84-82 loss to Northeastern State last Friday.
• The Mules won a share of their third straight MIAA Regular Season Champioship. It was the sixth conference title under head coach Kim Anderson, the 24th in school history and the first three-peat in school history.
• The Wonder Boys are coming off an 83-64 loss to Harding in the Great American Conference Tournament Semifinals.
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 1,609 wins.
• In the Mules' 24 wins this season they are averaging 82.5 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the field. They are limiting opponents to 41 percent shooting and 65.2 points per game.
• In the Mules' five losses they are averaging 75.2 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 24 wins this season mark the seventh 20-win season under Kim Anderson and the 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.
MIAA POSTSEASON HONORS
• The Mules had three players named to the All-MIAA Team as voted on by the league coaches. Junior forward
Dillon Deck was a first team selection, senior guard
Daylen Robinson earned third team honors and senior guard
Charles Hammork earned honorable mention accolades.
• This is the second straight All-MIAA honor for Hammork and the first for both Deck and Robinson. This is Deck's second straight first team all-conference award, however, as he was a first team All-GLVC pick last season at William Jewell.
SERIES HISTORY VS ARKANSAS TECH
• This will be the sixth meeting all-time between Central Missouri and Arkansas Tech. The Mules lead the series with the Wonder Boys 4-1.
• The Mules lead the series 2-0 in games played at neutral sites.
• The last meeting between these two schools was the season-opener for the 1987-88 season, a game won by the Mules 100-75 at the Evangel Thanksgiving Tournament in Springfield, Mo.
LAST MEETING WITH ARKANSAS TECH
• The Mules beat the Wonder Boys 100-75 to open the 1987-88 season at the Evangel Thanksgiving Tournament in Springfield, Mo.
• Leroy Robinson led the Mules with a season-high 31 points that night and also pulled down 10 rebounds.
• The Mules set season-highs that night in points (100), made field goals (37), field goal attempts (74), three-point field goal percentage (.667), rebounds (56) and assists (27).
SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS
• Arkansas Tech enters the NCAA-II Central Regional at 21-9 overall. The Wonder Boys went 15-5 in Great American Conference play this year capturing the regular season conference crown for the fifth straight season.
• The Wonder Boys are shooting 45 percent from the field and averaging 72.2 points per game. They give up 67.7 points per contest and 42 percent shooting to the opposition.
• ATU shoots 37 percent from three-point range and 67 percent at the free throw line. They are holding opponents to just 35 percent shooting from beyond the arc and the Wonder Boys have attempted 117 more free throws than their opponents.
• Bobby Hatchett leads three ATU players in double figures at 11.9 points per game. Marshawn Arnold averages 10.3 points per contest and a team-high 4.4 rebounds per game. Willie Rogers is the other Wonder Boy averaging in double figures at 10.0 points per outing.
• Kendell Pinkney averaged 5.3 points and dishes out 4.0 assists per game.
• Arkansas Tech out-rebounds opponents by just over a board per game and commit 12.3 turnovers per game.
• The Wonder Boys average over seven steals per game, but opponents average over eight made three-pointers per game against them.
LAST TIME OUT • NORTHEASTERN STATE 84, CENTRAL MISSOURI 82 • 3/7/14
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 15th-ranked Mules had a furious rally come up just short as they fell 84-82 to ninth-seeded Northeastern State in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday afternoon at Municipal Auditorium.
   UCM (24-5) trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, but forged a late comeback that came up just short when
Daylen Robinson's three from inside the halfcourt line was off the mark at the buzzer.
   The Mules used a 16-8 run over the last 3:21 that gave them a chance at the end.
   Both teams struggled offensively in the first half with UCM shooting just 31 percent and Northeastern State (16-12) not much better at 35 percent. The Mules used a quick 4-0 run midway through the first half to grab their largest lead of the game at 16-13 with 7:47 to play in the half.
   A quick 4-0 run the other way gave the RiverHawks the lead back with just over five and a half minutes on the clock. The game was back and forth in the closing minutes of the half with the Mules grabbing their final lead of the game 25-24, at the 2:00 mark. The RiverHawks, however, closed the opening stanza on a 5-0 run and led 29-25 at the intermission.
   The Mules opened the second half on a 5-0 run to tie the game, but Michael Harmon put NSU back in front with a layup at the 17:04 mark. The RiverHawks pushed the lead to as many as five, but a
Dillon Deck layup and
Daylen Robinson free throw cut the deficit to 40-38 with 13:25 to play.
   That's when Northeastern State caught fire. A three-pointer from Bryton Hobbs sparked a 14-2 run to give NSU a 54-40 lead with 10:12 to play in the game. Hobbs scored 11 of the 14 points during the run, including three treys.
   The lead grew to 15 at 61-46 with 8:06 to play when UCM began to crawl back into the game.
Preston Brunz scored eight straight ponits, including back-to-back threes to pull the Mules within seven at 63-56 with 6:03 on the clock. A pair of free throws from Hobbs pushed the lead back to nine and later a three-point play from Landon DeMasters pushed the lead back to 10.
   Deck scored a traditional three-point play to pull UCM with seven and followed a DeMasters layup Robinson drained a three to pull UCM within 70-64 with 4:19 to play. The RiverHawks answered, as they did all game, with four quick points to push the lead back to double digits.
   The Mules hit four of five free throws in their next two trips down the court to pull within six again and following a made free throw from the RiverHawks, Brunz drilled another three to make it a four-point game, 77-73, with :56 remaining.
   Amir Gilliam made a pair at the foul line to push NSU back in front by six, but Brunz hit another triple and UCM trailed 79-76 with :44 to play. Hobbs made one of two at the line on the next trip and then Marcus Sheppard hit a pair and NSU led by six again, 82-76.
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Jon Gilliam's three at the :17 mark cut the margin to 82-79, but Hobbs hit two more free throws to give NSU an 84-79 lead. Brunz hit his fifth three of the half to pull UCM within two at 84-82 with seven seconds left. Central Missouri fouled NSU on the inbounds and Amir Gilliam missed both free throws giving UCM a chance.
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Charles Hammork passed up court to Robinson, but his desperation three from just inside half court was off the mark at the buzzer and the comeback fell short.
   The Mules shot 43 percent for the game, 28 of 65, and made 8 of 17 three-point attempts for 47 percent. UCM struggled at the foul line making just 18 of 30 attempts for 60 percent.
   Brunz, Deck and Robinson all finished with 17 points apiece, while Hammork chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds.
   Hobbs led NSU with a game-high 31 points on 7 of 19 shooting, but he was 6 of 10 from long range and 11 of 12 at the foul line. He also had a team-high nine boards to go along with five assists.. DeMasters finished with 16 points and Harmon had 11.
   The RiverHawks shot 44 percent from the field, 22 of 50, and made 12 of 23 from beyond the arc for 52 percent. NSU was 28 of 33 at the free throw line for 85 percent.
   The Mules out-rebounded NSU 39-37 and held a 32-14 advantage in points in the paint.
MULES IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• Central Missouri has a 31-21 record in 21 NCAA Tournament appearances. UCM played in five regional consolation games between 1965 and 1985 after losing in the first round.
• The Mules are 14-9 in NCAA Tournament games played on a neutral court, which will be the case for their first round matchup with Arkansas Tech.
• UCM is 12-9 in regional first round games.
• The Mules are 4-2 in first round games under Kim Anderson.
• Central Missouri is 11-6 overall in six previous NCAA Tournament appearances under Anderson.
• The Mules are making their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and seventh overall under Anderson.
THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• Central Missouri is 159-66 in MIAA play during the Kim Anderson era and 16-3 this season after the 76-64 win over Northwest Missouri on Saturday.
• 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 captured their sixth MIAA regular season championship this season and have four MIAA tournament titles under Kim Anderson.
MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 109-29 in non-conference games during the Kim Anderson era, including an 8-2 mark this season.
• Central Missouri is 53-1 in the last 54 non-conference games at home.
MULES IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
• Central Missouri dropped five spots in this week's NABC/Division II Coaches' Poll to No. 20 after their first round exit from the MIAA Tournament.
• The Mules have been ranked in 139 polls in the history of the program, the seventh most in NCAA-II history.
• This is Central Missouri's fifth week in the rankings this season.
THE MULES AT HOME
• Central Missouri is 154-21 at the Multipurpose Building under Kim Anderson after beating Northwest Missouri on Saturday.
• The Mules were 13-0 at home last season and have won 27 straight games at the Multi dating back to the 2011-12 season.
• Over the last nine years, UCM is 137-11 at home, including 53-1 against non-conference opponents and 84-10 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 465-88 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.
MULES IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
• UCM is 44-20 overall in neutral site games during the Kim Anderson era and 3-1 this season after falling to Northeastern State 84-82 in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals in Kansas City.
THE MULES FOLLOWING A LOSS
• Central Missouri is 4-0 this season when coming off of a loss.
• The Mules are 56-27 following a loss during the Kim Anderson era.
• UCM has not lost back-to-back games since a three-game losing streak in early February of last season.
 DISHING IT OUT
• Senior guard
Daylen Robinson moved into a tie for fifth place on UCM's single-season assist list with 160 when he dished out five assists in the loss to Northeastern State. He is four assists shy of fourth place on the list and seven shy of third place.
• He is fourth in the MIAA in assists per game at 5.5
SWATTING HIS WAY
• Junior forward
Dillon Deck has registered 26 blocks this year. He is three blocks away from cracking UCM's top 10 single-season list.
A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules a 25-5 overall record and advance them to the NCAA Central Regional Semifinals for the fifth time in seven NCAA Tournaments under Kim Anderson.
• Give the Mules a 5-0 record this season following a loss.
A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• End the Mules season at 24-6 overall.
• Give the Mules two straight first round exits in the regional tournament.
• Give UCM back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
ANDERSON LEADING THE WAY
• Now in his 12th season leading the Mules, Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson has compiled a career record of 268-95 (.738).
• His .731 winning percentage entering the 2013-14 season ranks seventh among all active NCAA Division II coaches.
• He has led UCM to six 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 (268), 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 1,609-924 (.635) record in 2,533 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 24 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 2013-14 winter seasons, Central Missouri has won a combined 198 MIAA regular-season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• This season, UCM has captured five MIAA Regular Season Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 144 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 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 through the season.
UPCOMING
• If the Mules win their opening round game, they will face the winner of Missouri Southern and Fort Hays State on Sunday, March 16 at 5 p.m. in the regional semifinals.
• A win in the semifinals would advance UCM to the NCAA-II Central Region Championship Game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the other semifinal.
