WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (Nov. 11, 2016) --
Spencer Reaves scored a game-high 17 points and four Mules finished in double figures as Central Missouri held off a late charge from Minnesota-Duluth for a 68-65 season-opening win on Friday night.
Reaves was 5-of-9 from the field, including four three-pointers to lead UCM (1-0) in scoring. He also had game-highs of six rebounds and four assists.
Erick Locke and
Kyle Wolf finished with 12 points each and
Clarence Smith chipped in 11 as the Mules won their 15th straight season-opener.
UCM led by as many as 12 in the game and by as many as nine points in the second half before the Bulldogs (0-1) rallied late. UMD was able to get within one point three separate times in the final 3:00, but UCM had an answer every time, including a pair of free throws from Reaves with five seconds to play to help seal the game.
The Mules jumped on top out of the gates on a
Kyle Wolf three-pointer only to see the Bulldogs score four straight points to grab their first and only lead of the game. Layups from Locke and Wolf put UCM back in front for good with just over 16 minutes left in the first half.
The Mules used a 14-3 run late in the first half to turn a one-point lead into a 12-point advantage at 33-21 with an even two minutes left in the opening period. The Bulldogs scored five quick points to pull within seven, but
Marquiez Lawrence scored at the buzzer to put the Mules up 35-26 at halftime.
UCM made 21-of-43 shots from the field for a 49 percent clip. They were 8-of-15 from beyond the arc and made 18-of-22 foul shots. The Mules out-rebounded UMD 38-20, but committed 18 turnovers to just nine for the Bulldogs.
Cody Tomlinson scored 16 points and Luke Harris added 10 to lead Minnesota-Duluth. The Bulldogs were 26-of-61 from the field for 43 percent and made 12-of-26 three-point attempt and just 1-of-2 at the line.
The Mules wrap up their northern road trip tomorrow at 5 p.m. when they take on another Northern Sun conference opponent, Bemidji State.
