TIP-OFF
• The Central Missouri Mules play their final game before the break on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. against Culver-Stockton at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
• Central Missouri is coming off an 87-66 win over Southwest Baptist on Saturday afternoon at the Multi.
• The Mules were picked to finish ninth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Culver-Stockton is 1-11 on the season, including an 0-8 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The Wildcats have lost 11 straight games after winning their season-opener.
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
• UCM Athletics is hosting a canned food drive at Monday night's game. Fans who bring four canned or non-perishable food items will receive a free general admission ticket to the doubleheader, which features the Jennies against William Jewell at 5:30 p.m. and the Mules hosting Culver-Stockton at 7:30 p.m.
• All food items collected on Monday night will be donated to the Warrensburg Food Center.
ON THE AIR
• The game will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action.
• The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's Stretch Internet portal at UCMathletics.com/gamecentral. It is a pay-per-view webcast.
PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
• This is the 112th season of Central Missouri Mules basketball.
• Central Missouri is third all-time in NCAA Division II men's basketball with 1,661 wins. One of just four NCAA-II programs with 1,600 wins.
• The Mules have won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships overall (1937 & 1938 NAIB).
MULE FEED
• The Mules return one All-MIAA player from a season ago, junior guard
Spencer Reaves, who earned honorable mention all-conference accolades after averaging 12.3 points and 2.5 boards per game.
• Reaves is averaging 18.1points per game this season, best on the team and sixth in the MIAA.
• Eleven different players scored in double figures for the Mules in 2015-16 and six of those players return to the squad this year.
•
Marquiez Lawrence recorded six double-doubles last year. He was the only UCM player to record a double-double during the season.
• Eight different players have scored in double figures for the Mules this season with
Spencer Reaves scoring at least 20 points in five games.
• The Mules are second in the MIAA in three-point shooting at 45.1 percent, third in overall field goal percentage at 49.1 and third in free throw percentage at 75.8 percent.
SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the fifth all-time meeting between Central Missouri and Culver-Stockton with the Mules holding a 4-0 lead in the series.
• Central Missouri beat Culver-Stockton 81-59 in Warrensburg back on Dec. 15, 2014 in the last meeting between the two schools.
• The first all-time meeting was a 39-7 UCM win during the 1920-21 season.
LAST MEETING WITH CULVER-STOCKTON
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Dec. 15, 2014) – The fourth-ranked Mules overcame a slow start and rolled to an 81-59 win over Culver-Stockton on Monday night at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The Mules are now 10-0 as they head into a pair of MIAA games this weekend.
   The Wildcats (6-5) opened the game on a 16-3 run in the first 4:55. Three straight layups by Dillon Deck pulled UCM (10-0) to within seven at 16-9 and he added an and one free throw to make it 16-10 with 13:06 to play in the first half.
   UCM got to within one at 22-21 on a three-pointer from
Preston Brunz, but four straight points by Travon Mitchell pushed the Culver-Stockton lead back to five at 26-21. The Mules then went on an 18-0 run to take the lead for good and went into the intermission leading 39-27.
   Central Missouri opened the second half on an 11-0 run and the lead ballooned to 50-27 with 16:45 to play in the game. The Mules pushed the lead to as many as 29 at 74-45 on a Donte Adams three with 7:04 to play in the game. Culver-Stockton got back to within 21, but UCM cruised to the 22-point win.
   The win was the 16th straight for UCM dating back to last year and the 33rd straight win at home.
   Adams and Deck led UCM with 16 points apiece. TJ White added 13 off the bench and
Brad Woodson finished with 10. Deck also added seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
   The Mules shot 54 percent from the field, going 29-of-53. They were 8-of-20 from three-point range for 40 percent and 15-of-23 at the free throw line for 65 percent. The Mules had 12 assists, but did turn it over 15 times. UCM out-rebounded CSC 41-28, held a 36-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 55-26 edge in bench scoring.
   Mitchell led Culver-Stockton with a game-high 19 points. The Wildcats were 19-of-56 from the field for 33 percent and 9-of-25 from beyond the arc for 36 percent. They made 12-of-17 at the charity stripe for 70 percent.
SCOUTING CULVER-STOCKTON
• The Wildcats enter the contest at 1-11 overall and 0-8 in Heart of America Conference play. CSC lost to MidAmerica Nazarene 85-76 back on Dec. 7.
• The Wildcats averaging 67 points per game offensively on 37.5 percent shooting from the field and 31.4 percent shooting from three-point range. They give up 80.1 ppg on 48.6 percent shooting, including 41.7 percent from beyond the arc.
• Francesc Iturria is one of two CSC players averaging in double figures scoring wise. He shoots 34.6 percent from the field and scores 13.8 points per game. He is joined by Thaddeus Newby, who scores 11.7 points per game. He shoots 44.2 percent from the field and has made 28 three-pointers this year.
• Aleksander Malinic leads the team in rebounding at 4.8 boards per game to go along with 4.7 points per contest.
• The Wildcats have shot 99 less free throws than their opponents. Opponents are averaging 22.3 free throw attempts per game.
• Culver-Stockton is out-rebounded by almost six boards per game as well.
LAST TIME OUT • CENTRAL MISSOURI 87, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 66 • 12/17/16
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Dec. 17, 2016) –
Jakob Lowrance led four Mules in double figures with a career-high 24 points as Central Missouri routed Southwest Baptist 87-66 on Saturday afternoon at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The Mules led by as many as 23 in the game as they improved to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play.
   The game started off slow as both teams were as cold shooting as the temperatures outside. The Mules started the game 1-for-7, while the Bearcats were 1-for-5 to start the game. The Bearcats (6-4, 1-2 MIAA) led 7-3 with just over six minutes gone by in the first half when both teams started to warm up.
   Lowrance got the offense going with a layup and later a three-pointer by
Kyle Wolf tied the game 12-12 with 11:00 to play. A three from
Spencer Reaves on the next possession put UCM in front 15-12 and a pair of Wolf free throws pushed the lead to five. Four quick points from SBU pulled the Bearcats to within one, but Lowrance and Reaves connected on 3-of-4 free throws and UCM led 20-16 with 8:13 in the half.
   The Bearcats got back to within one at 25-24 and 27-26, but five quick points by the Mules, a three from Reaves and a layup from Lowrance, made it 32-26 with 2:22 to play. UCM scored nine of the final 14 points of the half and led 41-31 at the intermission.
   UCM scored 10 of the first 15 points out of the break to open a 51-36 lead with 16:52 to play in the game. The Bearcats made another push to get within 10 at 57-47 with 12:26 in regulation, but the Mules used an 11-0 run to open up a 21-point lead at 68-47 with 10:04 to play in the game.
   The lead grew to 77-54 with 6:24 to play in the game as the Mules cruised to the win, their 13th straight over Southwest Baptist in Warrensburg.
Lowrance's career-high 24 was followed up by Reaves with 20, his fifth 20-point performance in nine games this season. Wolf had 16 and
DJ Richardson finished with a season-high 15. Lowrance also set a new career-high, pulling in a game-high nine rebounds.
   The Mules were 28-of-52 from the field for 54 percent and made 9-of-21 from three-point range for 43 percent. UCM was 22-of-33 at the foul line for 67 percent.
   SBU was led by Logan Hovey's game-high 27 and Cartree Pettis' 14. SBU was 20-of-48 from the field for 42 percent, but just 5-of-18 from beyond the arc. The Bearcats made 21-of-32 at the foul line.
   The Mules out-rebounded SBU, who entered the game as the league's top rebounding team, 35-30 and outscored the Bearcats 36-24 in the paint. UCM turned 17 SBU turnovers in to 25 points.
MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules are 2-1 in MIAA play after the 87-66 win over Southwest Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 17.
• UCM is 24-20 in conference play under
Doug Karleskint.
• The Mules have won or shared 24 MIAA Regular Season Championships and five MIAA Tournament titles.
MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 5-1 in non-conference action after the win over MidAmerica Nazarene on Dec. 13.
• UCM was 6-1 in non-conference games last season, including a 6-0 mark in regular season non-con games. They are 137-33 over the last 15 seasons.
• Central Missouri is 67-1 in the last 68 non-conference home games at the Multipurpose Building.
MULES AT HOME
• The Mules are 4-0 at home after the 87-66 win over Southwest Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 17 and are 27-8 at home under
Doug Karleskint.
• UCM is 165-19 at home over the last 12 seasons, including 67-1 against non-conference opponents and 98-18 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 493-96 (.837) in their 41st season playing home games at the Multipurpose Building.
MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules are 1-2 on the road this season after the loss at Northwest Missouri on Dec. 11.
• UCM was 4-9 in road games last season and is 11-14 on the road under
Doug Karleskint.
BLOCK PARTY
• Senior
Marquiez Lawrence blocked 32 shots last season, tied for the 10th most in a single season in Central Missouri history.
• He has seven blocks this season and is now at 39 for his career, tying him for 10th all-time at UCM with Brian Rhodes (2002-04).
MIAA STAT LEADERS
•
Spencer Reaves is sixth in the MIAA in scoring with an average of 18.1 points per game.
Kyle Wolf is 16th in the conference at 14.3 points per game.
• Reaves is fifth in the MIAA in free throw percentage at 88.2 percent, while Wolf is second in three-point field goal percentage at 58.1. Reaves is fifth in 3FG% at 50.0.
• Wolf would be third in FG% at 62.9, but is one made field goal shy of the required 5.0 made FG per game. Reaves is sixth in at 56.0
•
Marquiez Lawrence is 14th in the league with 5.7 rebounds per game. He also ranks tied for 13th in blocked shots, averaging 0.8 per contest.
•
Erick Locke is 15th in the MIAA dishing out 3.0 assists per game, but he is tied for fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.3.
• Reaves is sixth in the MIAA in steals averaging 1.6 per game, while
Clarence Smith is tied for 16th with 1.2 per outing.
A WIN OVER CULVER-STOCKTON WOULD...
• Improve the Mules' record to 8-2 for the second straight season.
• Give UCM five straight home wins and three straight wins overall.
• Give the Mules a 68-1 record in their last 69 home non-conference games.
A LOSS TO CULVER-STOCKTON WOULD...
• Drop the Mules 7-3 overall on the season.
• Snap the Mules' four-game home court winning streak.
• Be the first ever loss to Culver-Stockton and UCM's first loss to an NAIA team since the 2001-02 season.
• Give the Mules just their second loss in their last 69 home non-conference games.
UCM DURING THE KARLESKINT ERA
•
Doug Karleskint has a record of 46-24 (.657) in his third season as head coach at Central Missouri and a 135-58 (.699) overall mark in his seventh season as a head coach.
• He became the first Mules' head coach to start his first season at UCM 7-0 when he accomplished the mark in 2014-15.
• His 25 wins in 2014-15 were 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.
• Before coming to UCM, he spent the previous five seasons at Arkansas Tech, including the last four as head coach. He compiled an 89-34 (.724) 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 BASKETBALL HISTORY
• In the 112th season of UCM basketball, the Mules have compiled a 1,661-948 (.637) record in 2,609 total games.
• The Mules are the third winningest program by victories in NCAA-II history.
• Central Missouri is one of just four 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 three of the last four seasons.
• Central Missouri has won 30 or more games in a season three times (2006-07, 2008-09, and 2013-14).
• UCM has won or shared 24 MIAA regular season championships and five MIAA tournament titles.
THE NEXT LEVEL
• In the past 15 years, 23 former UCM players have gone on to play professional basketball.
• Four players are either currently playing professionally or on a professional roster; Donte Adams (Mexico, Conejos De Tuxtla), Charles Hammork (Kosovo, Ylli Therande), Michael Hicks (Poland, Polpharma-Pakmet), and Zack Wright (Germany, Brose Basket).
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Entering the 2016 fall semester, Central Missouri has won a combined 207 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last year, UCM captured two MIAA regular season titles, three MIAA Tournament crowns and three NCAA Regional Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 153 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won eight national championships during Hughes' tenure (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003, men's basketball in 2014, and women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015) and 10 national championships overall.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 232 student-athletes named to the 2015-16 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 28 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.
• 19 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had seven student-athletes earn Academic All-Region awards in their respective sports with four of those earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
• Since the year 2000, UCM is sixth in NCAA-II with 53 Academic All-Americans.
• Two UCM student-athletes were awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last year.
MULES BASKETBALL ON THE AIR
• Central Missouri basketball is broadcast live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar, 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, presented by Bob Showers of Ameritas Investment Corp., live from Traditions Restaurant airs on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. The Show is hosted by Greg Hassler and is broadcast live from Traditions Restaurant at Mules National Golf Club.
UPCOMING
• The Mules return to action on New Year's Eve taking on Rockhurst in Kansas City. Tip-off at the Mason-Halpin Fieldhouse at Rockhurst is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 31.
• UCM returns to MIAA play with the western road swing on Jan. 5 and 7. The Mules travel to Fort Hays State on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and to Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 4 p.m.
