ST. CHARLES, Mo. (Jan. 21, 2017) -- The Mules built a 17-point second half lead then withstood a late Lindenwood rally to grab an 82-75 win at the Hyland Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Mules have now won three straight games and four of their last five.
Lindenwood (14-8, 4-6 MIAA) jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but the Mules (12-5, 6-3 MIAA) responded with an 8-1 run to grab their first lead of the game, 8-6, with 16:06 to play in the game. A 7-2 spurt put the Lions back in front at 13-10 just two minutes later. Lindenwood would push the lead to seven at 20-13 midway through the first half, but a 9-1 run put the Mules in front 22-21 with 7:25 to play in the half.
Lindenwood went back in front by five with a 7-1 spurt of their own, but the Mules scored 10 of the final 14 points of the half and led 33-32 at the intermission.
The Lions opened the second half with seven of the first nine points to go in front 39-35, but
Kyle Wolf scored four straight points and
DJ Richardson added a steal and breakaway dunk to put the Mules back in front 40-39. It ignited a 12-0 run that gave UCM a 47-39 lead with 13 minutes to play in the game. The lead was five later in the half when UCM went on another run, this time a 16-4 spurt that gave the Mules a 67-50 lead with 5:02 to play in the game.
The Lions battled back, making five three-pointers in the final five minutes, to get as close as five but the Mules iced the game at the foul line to secure the win.
Kyle Wolf led three Mules in double figures with 16 points.
Spencer Reaves added 13 points and
Jakob Lowrance had 12.
Marquiez Lawrence had nine points and eight rebounds. UCM was 19-of-36 from the field for 53 percent, including 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. The Mules were 38-of-45 at the free throw line for 84 percent.
Jackson Price and Chandler Diekvoss led LWU with 17 points apiece, while LJ McIntosh and Bakari Triggs had 13 each. The Lions shot 48 percent from the field (28-of-58), and made 10 threes on 30 attempts. They were 9-of-14 at the free throw line.
The Mules return home next Wednesday night, Jan. 25, to host Emporia State at 7:30 p.m.
