ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (Dec. 3, 2016) -- The Mules continued their hot-shooting as they used runs in the first and second half to pull away from Missouri Western for a 76-59 MIAA-opening win at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
The Mules shot 57 percent for the game, going 27-of-47, and made 11-of-21 three-pointers for 52 percent.
The Mules (5-1, 1-0 MIAA) jumped out to an early 12-6 lead all on three-pointers with three coming from
Spencer Reaves and one from
Clarence Smith. The Griffons (1-7, 0-2 MIAA) stayed in it with some hot shooting of their own, Joe Hamilton hit a three-pointer and TJ Evans scored a layup to pull within 12-11 at the 13:03 mark, but
Kyle Wolf scored on a layup to start a 9-2 spurt that put UCM in front 21-13 with 10:47 left in the first half.
The Griffons got back to within four at 24-20 but Wolf buried a three and
Dushaun Rice and Smith scored on three straight fast break layups as part of a 13-0 run that gave Central Missouri a 37-20 lead with 1:53 to play. UCM went in to the intermission with a 39-25 lead.
Missouri Western opened the second half with an 8-2 mini run to pull within eight at 41-33 with 17:27 on the clock, but the Mules responded.
Erick Locke hit a wide open three pointer and Reaves scored on a layup.
Marquiez Lawrence added a free throw and the lead was back to 14, 47-33, with 16:03 to play.
The Griffons would get as close as nine on two separate occasions, but each time the Mules had an answer. Missouri Western got to within 51-42 with 10:19 to play, but an 11-3 spurt gave the Mules a 62-45 lead with just under eight minutes to play. The lead grew to as much as 20 as UCM rolled to its fourth straight MIAA-opening win.
Reaves led four Mules in double figures with a game-high 22. He was 7-of-11 from the field and made four threes.
Jakob Lowrance added 13 points off the bench, while Wolf chipped in 12 and Smith had 11.
Rice had six assists and just one turnover as UCM finished with 19 assists on 27 made baskets.
Hamilton led MWSU with 13 points, while Cole Clearman finished with 11 and Aaron Emmanuel had 10. The Griffons shot 41 percent from the field, 19-of-46, and made 6-of-19 three-point attempts for 31 percent.
The Mules return to action next Sunday, Dec. 11 at Northwest Missouri at 3:30 p.m. The game has been moved back a day due to the NWMSU football playoff game.
