ROLLA, Mo. -- Central Missouri outscored Missouri S&T 46-33 in the second half to break open a close game en route to a 92-73 win on Saturday night. With the win, UCM improves to 4-0 on the season.
The Mules jumped out to a 10-0 lead out of the gates, but the Miners (1-3) battled their way back in to the game. They cut the lead to four at 17-13, only to see the Mules push the lead back to seven, once on a three-pointer by
Tony Cochran and later on a pair of
Tereke Eckwood free throws.
MST cut the UCM lead to one at 26-25 with 7:49 left in the first half on a B.J. McLaughlin jumper, but
Roosevelt Scott made a pair of fre throws and
Marquiez Lawrence had a big dunk to push the Mule lead back to five.
Brad Woodson hit back-to-back three-pointers and the UCM lead was nine at 36-27, but a 12-2 run gave the Miners their first, and only, lead of the ball game at 39-38.
Isiah Sykes drained a three-pointer to regain the lead and the Mules closed the half with five straight points to lead 46-40 at halftime.
The Mules opened the second half on a 5-0 run to lead by 11 and following a Miner three-point play they went on a 10-2 run to open a 61-45 lead with 11:55 to play. A 13-7 spurt later in the half gave the Mules a 20-point cushion and the rout was on. The lead ballooned to as much as 24 as the Mules cruised in the latter stages of the second half. The 92 points scored were the most for UCM since scoring 111 in a 111-106 triple overtime win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Nov. 29 of last year.
Sykes led all scorers with 16 points. Eckwood, Lawrence and Woodson all finished with 13 points apiece. Eckwood also dished out seven assists and Lawrence pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
The Mules shot 52 percent from the field, going 30-of-57, including 9-of-18 from three-point range. UCM was 23-of-33 at the foul line for 69 percent. UCM had 16 assists and seven steals.
The Miners were led by Quinn Poythress' 11 points. Allen Billinger and Telloy Simon finished with 10 each as Missouri S&T shot 38 percent from the floor, 24-of-62, and 43 percent from beyond the arc, 10-of-23. The Miners were 15-of-24 at the foul line for 62 percent and out-rebounded the Mules 42-32.
The Mules are off until Friday night when they host Southeastern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. at the Multi. UCM will also host MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday at 6 p.m. Both games can be heard live 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com.
