18th-ranked Mules set to face Missouri Southern in MIAA Semifinals

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TIP-OFF
• The 18th-ranked Central Missouri Mules continue their MIAA Tournament run on Saturday, March 7 at 2:15 p.m. as they meet Missouri Southern in the tournament semifinals.
• The Mules are 24-5 overall after holding off Central Oklahoma 67-66 in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night.
• Missouri Southern comes in at 19-10 overall and the No. 3 seed in the tournament. The Lions beat Nebraska-Kearney 97-88 on Thursday night to advance to the semifinals.
• UCM's win over Southwest Baptist on Feb. 5 gave the Mules their 18th win of the season. It marked the 12th straight season of at least 18 wins for UCM and set a new MIAA record. The old streak of 11 straight seasons of 18 or more wins was held by Northwest Missouri (1997-2008).
• 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.
• 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 1,639 wins.
• The win at Lincoln on February 11 gave the Mules their third straight 20-win season and the 24th in program history.
• The Mules are averaging 73.6 points per game and shooting 50.5 percent from the field. The opposition is averaging 66.4 points per game and shooting 43 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc.
• In their 24 wins, the Mules are averaging 74.8 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the field, while holding opponents to 64.1 points per game and 41.5 percent shooting.
• In the five losses, UCM scores 68.0 points per contest and shoots nearly 45 percent from the field, while opponents are averaging 77.2 points per outing and 51 percent shooting.
• The Mules have won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships overall (1937 & 1938 NAIB).

MULE FEED
• TJ White has recorded his first four career double-doubles this season to lead all Mules.
• Dillon Deck has one double-double this season and seven during his two-year UCM career.
• Brennen Hughes recorded his first double-double of the season at Southwest Baptist. Hughes scored a team-high 17 points and pulled in 10 rebounds.
• Five Mules have recorded double-doubles this season (Deck, Dickerson, Hughes, White and Wolf).
• Ten different Mules have scored in double figures this season ... nine different Mules have led the team in scoring.
• Preston Brunz, Rakeem Dickerson and TJ White are second, fifth and 13th, respectively, in the MIAA in assist-to-turnover ratio. Brunz is also third in three-point field goal percentage, Dickerson is third in the league in assists, and White is fifth in steals.
• Brennen Hughes (65.1) leads the MIAA in field goal percentage, while TJ White (55.6) is fifth.
• The Mules are 12th in the nation in field goal percentage.

MIAA POSTSEASON HONORS
• The Mules had five players earn All-MIAA honors as voted on by the league's coaches. Brennen Hughes was a First Team All-MIAA selection, Rakeem Dickerson was named to the Second Team and Dillon Deck earned Honorable Mention honors. Preston Brunz and TJ White were both named to the MIAA's All-Defensive Team.
• This is the second straight All-MIAA honor for Deck and the first for the other four players.

SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the 59th all-time meeting between Central Missouri and Missouri Southern. The Mules hold a 36-22 advantage after winning both regular season meetings.
• The Mules won 89-79 in Joplin on January 31 and 71-69 in Warrensburg on February 7 and have won five straight games in the series.
• UCM is 5-0 against Missouri Southern on a neutral floor, including a 94-84 win in last year's Central Region Semifinals.
• The Mules are 5-0 all-time against MSSU in the MIAA Tournament, including 3-0 in games played in Kansas City.

LAST MEETING WITH MISSOURI SOUTHERN
• Rakeem Dickerson hit a jump shot with just over two seconds remaining to propel 25th-ranked Central Missouri to a 71-69 win over Missouri Southern back on February 7 in Warrensburg.
• TJ White led the Mules in scoring with a game-high 19 points. Brennen Hughes chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds while Preston Brunz had 12 points.
• UCM out-rebounded MSSU 29-25 and held a 30-16 advantage in points in the paint.
• The Mules had 16 assists on 25 made field goals in the game and forced the Lions in to 13 turnovers.
• Taevaunn Prince led four Missouri Southern players in double figures with 17 points.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
• Missouri Southern enters the semifinal round matchup at 19-10 overall after their 97-88 win over Nebraska-Kearney in the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night. The Lions have won four straight games.
• The Lions are averaging 78.1 points per game and shooting 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. Opponents shoot 44 percent against MSSU, including 36 percent from beyond the arc and average 72.9 points per game.
• MSSU averages 35.4 rebounds per game and out-rebounds opponents by 1.3 boards per outing. They dish out 11 assists on the offense, but average over 13 turnovers per contest. They also average over three blocked shots per game.
• Taevaunn Prince leads Missouri Southern in scoring at 16.5 points per game. That number increases to 17.6 points per game against conference opponents. He also leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 boards per contest.
• Two other Lions are also averging in double figures with Lane Barlow and Cameron Cornelius pitching in 11.7 and 11.4 points per outing, respectively.

LAST TIME OUT • CENTRAL MISSOURI 67, CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 66 • 3/5/15
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Central Missouri Mules got a career-high 25 points from Kyle Wolf and withstood a Central Oklahoma rally to edge the Bronchos 67-66 in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Thursday evening at historic Municipal Auditorium. UCM led by as many as 15 in the game before withstanding a last second shot attempt from UCO.
    The Mules (24-5) got off to a great start jumping to a 7-1 lead three minutes in to the game. UCM extended the lead to nine at 13-4 with 14:15 to play in the half, but a 7-0 run by Central Oklahoma (20-10) cut the lead to 13-11 with 11:10 to play in the first half.
    A Dillon Deck layup pushed the lead back to four, but Jacob Strassle came right back for UCO to make it a two-point game again. A three from Wolf, one of his career-high seven in the game, gave UCM an 18-13 lead with 8:27 remaining. Corbin Byford answered for the Bronchos with a three of his own, but Wolf came right back with another to ignite an 18-6 run for the Mules that gave them a 36-21 lead with 1:36 to play in the opening period. 
    The Bronchos used a quick 7-0 run to pull within eight, but Preston Brunz knocked down a three just before the buzzer and UCM led 39-28 at halftime.
    TJ White scored on a layup out of the intermission and later added a free throw to give UCM a 42-28 lead with 19:29 to play in the game, but that's when the Bronchos started their comeback. Trai Jordan scored six straight points for UCO to start an 11-0 run and the Mule lead was cut to 42-39 just four and a half minutes later.
    White made a pair of free throws to push the lead back to five and Deck scored on a layup to make it seven point margin. Following a Garen Wright tip-in, Deck made two foul shots and Wolf added a free throw line jumper and UCM led 50-41 with 12:49 to play.
    The Bronchos kept coming back and were able to cut the lead to three at the 8:45 mark on a Seth Heckart three-pointer. The lead was still three at the 4:40 mark when Wolf drained another three to give UCM some breathing room at 64-58. Heckart made two foul shots for UCO, but Rakeem Dickerson scored on a driving layup and UCM led 66-60 with 3:16 to play.
    Philip Brown made two free throws for UCO and Deck made one of two for UCM and it was a 67-62 lead with 2:33 to play. Brown added a jumper with 2:13 to play and Bryson scored with 1:02 on the clock to make it 67-66. The Mules turned the ball over with :26 to play giving the Bronchos the final shot. Mahlon Jones drove to the bucket, but Deck was there to alter the shot and Brunz secured the rebound to give UCM the win.
    In addition to his career-high 25, Wolf also added a team-high six rebounds. White finished with 12 points, six boards and six assists. Deck added 15 points, six boards and three blocks off the bench for the Mules, who shot 51 percent in the game, 23-of-45. Deck's three blocks give him 37 on the season, the seventh most in a single-season in school history. Brennen Hughes had one block in the game, giving him 31, the 10th most in a single-season in UCM history.
    UCM had 13 assists on 23 made baskets and turned the ball over just seven times. The Mules were 9-of-16 from three-point range, but struggled to the tune of 48 percent, 12-of-25, at the foul line.
    Brown, Heckart and Jordan all had 11 points to pace UCO, while Cal Andrews chipped in 10. The Bronchos shot 40 percent from the floor, 21-of-52, but were just 6-of-20 from beyond the arc. UCO was 18-of-27 at the foul line.

MULES IN THE MIAA POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT
• The Mules are 33-28 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and 15-8 in games played in Kansas City after the 67-66 win over Central Oklahoma in Thursday night's quarterfinals.
• The Mules have captured six MIAA Tournament championships in school history, more than any other league school. UCM has been in the championship game 14 times in the history of the tournament.
• The Mules have made the championship game five of the 12 years the tournament has been held in Kansas City.
• UCM has won tournament championships in 1981-82, 1983-84, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2008-09 and 2012-13.
• The Mules have played in every MIAA Tournament since it's inception, the only school to do so.
• Overall, here is how the Mules have fared against conference opponents in the MIAA postseason tournament:
Team    Quarters    Semis    Finals    In KC    Overall
Central Oklahoma    1-0    1-0    -    2-0    2-0
Emporia State    2-0    1-0    -    1-0    3-0
Fort Hays State    1-0    -    -    1-0    1-0
Lincoln    -    0-1    -    -    0-1
Lindenwood    -    -    -    -    -
Missouri Southern    4-0    -    1-0    3-0    5-0
Missouri Western    1-3    1-1    1-1    2-0    3-5
Nebraska-Kearney    -    -    -    -    -
Northeastern State    0-1    -    -    0-1    0-1
Northwest Missouri    0-2    3-0    2-1    1-0    5-3
Pittsburg State    2-3    1-0    1-0    2-2    4-3
Southwest Baptist    0-1    1-0    0-2    1-1    1-3
Washburn    0-4    1-1    -    1-3    1-5
    -- vs former MIAA members --
Missouri-Rolla    -    -    0-1    -    0-1
Missouri-St. Louis    1-0    1-0    -    -    2-0
Nebraska Omaha    0-1    -    -    0-1    0-1
Southeast Missouri    1-0    2-1    1-3    -    4-4
Truman State    -    2-1    -    1-0    2-1
Totals    13-15    14-5    6-8    15-8    33-28

THE MULES AT HOME
• Central Missouri is 168-23 at the Multipurpose Building over the last 13 years and 14-2 under Doug Karleskint after the win over Missouri Western on Wednesday.
• Over the last nine years, UCM is 151-13 at home, including 59-1 against non-conference opponents and 92-12 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 479-90 in their 39th season playing home games at the Multi.

MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules are 6-3 on the road this season after the 83-73 setback at Northwest Missouri on Saturday. The loss snapped a three-game road winning streak for the Mules.
• The Mules are one of only three teams with a winning record on the road during MIAA play.
• UCM was 8-4 on the road last season, including 7-3 in MIAA play.

MULES IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
• UCM is 4-0 this year and 54-20 in neutral site games over the last 13 years after the 67-66 win over Central Oklahoma on Thursday night.
• The Mules were 9-1 in neutral site games last season.

MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules finished the regular season 14-5 in conference action under Doug Karleskint and second in the final league standings.
• Central Missouri is 172-71 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 10-0 in non-conference games this season and 125-29 over the last 13 seasons after the win over Central Oklahoma on Thursday.
• 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.

FOLLOWING A LOSS
• The Mules are 5-0 this season in the games immediately following a loss after their 67-66 victory over Central Oklahoma on Thursday that followed the loss to Northwest Missouri last Saturday.
• The Mules have not lost back-to-back games since dropping three straight since the 2012-13 season (Feb. 2, 7, 9, 2013).

CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS
• The Mules fell one spot to No. 4 in the latest Central Region rankings that were released by the NCAA on Wednesday.
• The top eight teams in the final rankings on Sunday, March 8 qualify for the Central Regional tournament March 14, 15 and 17 at a campus site to be determined.
• The NCAA-II Men's Selection Show is set for 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 8 on NCAA.com.
    Central Region    Overall D-II Record    In-Region Record
    1. Augustana (S.D.)    24-2    24-2    
    2. Minnesota State-Moorhead    27-2    25-2    
    3. Northwest Missouri State    19-5    19-5    
    4. Central Missouri    20-5    20-5    
    5. Minnesota State-Mankato    22-6    20-6    
    6. Northern State    21-7    21-7    
    7. Ouachita Baptist    18-5    18-5    
    8. Missouri Southern    15-9    13-9    
    9. Central Oklahoma    16-8    16-8    
    10. Pittsburg State    16-11    16-11

A UCM WIN WOULD...
• Give the Mules an 25-5 overall record and advance UCM to the MIAA Tournament Finals on Sunday at 1 p.m.
• Give UCM three wins over Missouri Southern this season and six straight in the series.

A UCM LOSS WOULD...
• Drop the Mules to 24-6 overall and snap their five game winning streak against Missouri Southern.

BLOCK PARTY
• Senior Dillon Deck has 69 blocked shots in his UCM career, fourth most on UCM's career blocks list, while Brennen Hughes has 47 in his career, the ninth most.
• Deck is seven blocks shy of tying Kelvin Richardson (1995-96) for third place on UCM's career list, while Hughes is two away from Darryl Somerset (2005-07) and Matt Webb (2011-13) for seventh on the list.
• Deck blocked 32 shots last season, the eighth most in a single season in Central Missouri history. His 37 blocks this season the seventh most in a single season.
• Hughes has 31 blocked shots this season the 10th most on the single-season blocks list.

KARLESKINT ERA OFF TO A GOOD START
• Doug Karleskint is 24-5 in his first season as the head coach at Central Missouri and 114-39 (.745) 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.
• His 23 wins are the most by a first-year head coach in Central Missouri history.
• Karleskint became the fourth Mules' head coach to win at least 20 games in his first season. 
• 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 NATIONAL POLLS
• The Mules dropped six spots to No. 18 in the latest NABC/Division II Rankings released on Tuesday afternoon.
• The Mules have been ranked in 151 polls in the history of the program, the seventh most in NCAA-II history.
• The Mules dropped six spots in to a tie at No. 20 in this week's Division II Media Poll sponsored by D2SIDA. The D2SIDA poll is in its first year of existence and is voted on by a panel of Division II Sports Information Directors.

MULES BASKETBALL HISTORY
• In the 110th season of UCM basketball, the Mules have compiled a 1,638-929 (.638) record in 2,567 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 24 times in the history of the program, including this season.
• 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 one season in league history, and the second time Central Missouri has 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 98.5 The Bar, 1450 KOKO and online at warrensburgradio.com. 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.

UPCOMING
• If the Mules beat Missouri Southern they will advance to the MIAA Tournament Championship game against either Northwest Missouri or Pittsburg State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
• The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. CST on NCAA.com.