BOLIVAR, Mo. (Feb. 13, 2016) -- The Central Missouri Mules saw their losing streak hit four as they fell 76-70 to Southwest Baptist on Saturday afternoon at the Meyer Wellness & Sports Center.
The Bearcats (10-14, 5-13 MIAA) jumped out to an early six point lead behind some hot shooting. The Mules (13-11, 7-11 MIAA) battled back, however, to grab an 11-10 lead. SBU went back in front with a 5-0 spurt only to see the Mules go on a 9-3 run of their own to grab a 20-18 lead.
The Bearcats continued their shooting streak knocking down a pair of threes to regain the lead. A three from
D'Marnier Cunningham cut the SBU lead to one, but the Bearcats scored five straight points to lead 29-23. A pair of
Jakob Lowrance free throws with just over a minute left in the half pulled UCM to within four at the break.
A three-pointer from Kai Woodfall, one of 10 in the game for SBU, out the intermission gave the Bearcats a seven-point lead. Just as they had in the first half, the Mules clawed their way back and grabbed a 41-39 lead with 14:36 to play on a
Tony Cochran three-pointer.
The game went back and forth until an 8-0 run by SBU broke a 48-all tie. The Mules kept fighting back.
Spencer Reaves hit a three to break the SBU run and pull UCM within five. The lead was five when Cunningham and
Brad Woodson had back to back steals and layups to pull the Mules within 58-57 with 4:39 to play.
The Mules regained a 61-60 lead on two foul shots from Lowrance and he hit two more for a 63-61 lead at the 3:39 mark. The Mules went cold down the stretch, however, missing their next four shots. By the time Cunningham hit a three-pointer with :25 left the Mules were down 73-68 and would get no closer. The Bearcats closed the game on a 15-7 spurt as UCM went 2-of-7 from the field over the final 3:39.
Lowrance led three Mules in double figures with a season-high 21 points. Cunningham finished with 17 and Reaves added 10. The Mules were 22-of-49 from the field for 45 percent, but were 7-of-25 from three-point range for 28 percent. UCM was 19-of-23 at the free throw line for 83 percent.
SBU shot 51 percent from the field, 20-of-39, and made 10-of-18 three-point attempts for 56 percent. The Bearcats were 26-of-31 at the charity stripe for 84 percent.
Logan Hovey led four Bearcats in double figures with a game-high 22. Woodfall had 16, while Cartier Dean and Kalehl Brown chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Mules look to end their skid when they return home on Wednesday night to host Pittsburg State at 7:30 p.m. at the Multi.
