STORY LINES
• The 20th-ranked and No. 2 seed Central Missouri Mules look to advance to their fourth regional final under Kim Anderson when they meet third-seeded Missouri Southern in the regional semifinals on Sunday at 5 p.m.
• The Mules took down Arkansas Tech 56-44 in the Central Region opener on Saturday afternoon.
• 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 Lions beat Fort Hays State 80-69 in their regional opener on Saturday and have won 10 straight games since their loss to UCM back on February 8.
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 1,610 wins.
• In the Mules' 25 wins this season they are averaging 81.5 points per game and shooting 51 percent from the field. They are limiting opponents to 41 percent shooting and 64.4 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 25 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 MISSOURI SOUTHERN
• This will be the 56th all-time meeting between Central Missouri and Missouri Southern and the third this season. The Mules lead the series 33-22 beating the Lions in both of the regular season meetings.
• UCM is 17-9 against Missouri Southern during the Kim Anderson era, including a 3-0 record on a neutral court.
LAST MEETING WITH MISSOURI SOUTHERN
• The Mules shot 59 percent from the field and held off a late Missouri Southern charge for a 97-92 win in Joplin back on February 8.
• UCM was 32 of 54 from the field for 59 percent and 9 of 16 from three-point range for 56 percent. UCM was 24 of 32 at the foul line for 75 percent.
• The Lions were 28 of 62 from the field for 45 percent. They made 6 of 21 three-point attempts for 29 percent and were 30 of 36 at the charity stripe for 83 percent.
• MSSU out-rebounded UCM 32-28, but the Mules held a 38-30 advantage in points in the paint,
• Marquis Addison led the Lions with 21 points. Jordan Talbert and Slim Magee each finished with 19 points, while Magee added 10 boards.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
• Missouri Southern enters the regional semifinal at 25-5 overall after beating Fort Hays State 80-69 in their regional opener on Saturday.
• The Lions are shooting 51 percent from the field and averaging 86.9 points per game. They give up 72.4 points per contest and 43 percent shooting to the opposition.
• MSSU shoots 41 percent from three-point range and 73 percent at the free throw line. They are holding opponents to just 34 percent shooting from beyond the arc and the Lions have attempted 260 more free throws than their opponents.
• Marquis Adison leads four MSSU players in double figures at 17.4 points per game. Slim Magee averages 12.0 points per contest and a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game. Jordan Talbert is averaging 11.5 points per outing and Cameron Cornelius chips in 11.3 per contest.
• Lane Barlow is averaging 8.2 points per game and leads the team with 4.0 assists per game.
• Missouri Southern out-rebounds opponents by nearly seven boards per game and commits 13.6 turnovers per game.
• The Lions also average over seven steals per game.
LAST TIME OUT • CENTRAL MISSOURI 56, ARKANSAS TECH 44 • 3/15/14
MANKATO, Minn. -- The 20th-ranked Central Missouri Mules overcame a poor shooting performance with a sound defensive effort in a 56-44 win over Arkansas Tech in the Central Regional quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Center.
The Mules held ATU to 30 percent shooting from the field and just 18 second half points as they pulled away late to advance to the regional semifinals on Sunday night.
The Mules (25-5) jumped out to an early 9-0 lead just over four minutes into the game. The Mules made six of their first 12 shots from the field and opened up a 19-8 lead with 10:05 to play in the half.
UCM went cold from the field from there and Arkansas Tech (21-10) started to crawl back into the game. Four quick points cut the UCM lead to four.
Dillon Deck made a layup to push the lead back to nine at 21-12, but a three from Nick Wayman and a layup from Charles Mells cut the lead to four with 8:16 to play in the half.
A pair of
Brennen Hughes free throws pushed the Mule lead back to six. The lead was still six at 25-19 with 3:41 to play in the opening period, but the Wonder Boys closed the half on a 7-1 run to tie the game at 26-all at the intermission.
The Mules scored the first four points of the second half as both teams continued to struggle from the field. The Mules led 34-32 with 13:20 to play in the game when
Jordan Epps scored a traditional three-point play and
Charles Hammork had a steal and dunk to push UCM in front by seven at 39-32 with 11:33 on the clock. Hammork got a hoop and foul on the next possession to put the Mules in front by 10.
Ryan Magdziarz drilled a three on the next trip down the floor and UCM led 45-32 with 10:01 to play in the game.Â
The Wonder Boys battled back going on a mini 7-0 run of their own to pull within six, 45-39, with 7:34 to play in regulation. UCM responded with a three from Epps and another steal and dunk from Hammork and the lead was back to 11 with 6:56 remaining.
Wayman buried a three at the 6:08 mark to cut the lead to eight, but the Mules scored six straight points to push the lead to 14 and ice the game.
Hammork led all scorers with 17 points to go along with seven rebounds and three steals.
Jon Gilliam finished with 10 points, while Deck added nine points and a game-high nine boards.
The Mules shot 34 percent from the field, 21 of 61, and just 5 of 20 from three-point range for 25 percent. UCM was 9 of 13 at the foul line for 69 percent.
Wayman led ATU with 12 points as the Wonder Boys shot just 30 percent from the field, 16 of 54. Arkansas Tech was 3 of 22 from beyond the arc for 14 percent and 9 of 11 at the charity stripe for 82 percent.
The Mules forced 17 ATU turnovers and turned those into 21 points. UCM had nine steals in the game.
With the win, Central Missouri advances to the NCAA Central Region Semifinals on Sunday night at 5 p.m. UCM will play conference rival Missouri Southern, who beat Fort Hays State earlier in the day.
MULES IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• Central Missouri has a 32-21 record in 22 NCAA Tournament appearances. UCM played in five regional consolation games between 1965 and 1985 after losing in the first round.
• The Mules are 15-9 in NCAA Tournament games played on a neutral court, which will be the case for Sunday's game against Missouri Southern.
• UCM is 13-9 in regional first round games.
• The Mules are now 5-2 in first round games under Kim Anderson.
• UCM is 3-1 in four previous regional semifinal games under Anderson.
• Central Missouri is 12-6 overall in seven 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 110-29 in non-conference games during the Kim Anderson era, including an 9-2 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 45-20 overall in neutral site games during the Kim Anderson era and 4-1 this season after the 56-44 win  over Arkansas Tech yesterday.
THE MULES FOLLOWING A LOSS
• Central Missouri is 5-0 this season when coming off of a loss after their win over Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon.
• The Mules are 57-27 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 fourth place on UCM's single-season assist list with 165 when he dished out five assists in the win over Arkansas Tech. He is two assists shy of third place on the list.
• He is fourth in the MIAA in assists per game at 5.5.
SWATTING HIS WAY
• Junior forward
Dillon Deck has registered 28 blocks this year. He is one block away from cracking UCM's top 10 single-season list.
A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules a 26-5 overall record and advance them to the NCAA Central Regional Finals for the fourth time in seven NCAA Tournaments under Kim Anderson.
• Give the Mules three straight wins over Missouri Southern and a sweep of all three meeting this season.
A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• End the Mules season at 25-6 overall.
• Snap a two-game winning streak against the Lions.
ANDERSON LEADING THE WAY
• Now in his 12th season leading the Mules, Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson has compiled a career record of 269-95 (.739).
• 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 (269), 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 1,610-924 (.635) record in 2,534 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 against Missour Southern, they would advance to the NCAA-II Central Region Championship Game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the winner of Minnesota State and Northwest Missouri.
