Mules Bounce Back with Win vs. Maryville

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 18, 2017) - Central Missouri Mules basketball rebounded nicely from their first loss of the season Friday with a 74-56 win over Maryville Saturday afternoon. The win moves the Mules to 3-1 on the season as they went 1-1 during the Fairfield Inn Classic.

How it Happened
• Three Mules scored in double-figures as UCM shot 50.9% from the floor.
• Central Missouri also shot 45.5% from three, hitting 10-of-22 shots from beyond the arc.
• The Mules did a great job limiting mistakes, turning the ball over just nine times and committing nine personal fouls.
• UCM forced the Saints into 18 turnovers and came away with 12 steals on the defensive end.
• Central Missouri trailed early and a Casey Teson jumper gave the Saints their largest lead in the game, 14-8 midway through the first.
• Maryville still held a five point lead, 19-14 with six minutes left in the half which is when the Mules made their run. UCM outscored Maryville 17-4 over the final six minutes in the half to take a 31-23 lead into the break. Clarence Smith hit a three with 30 seconds to play, giving the Mules their largest lead in the first 20 minutes.
• It didn't take long fro the Mules to double their eight-point lead in the second half. Jakob Lowrance and Matt Wilkinson hit threes on back-to-back possessions and a second three from Wilkinson at 15:21 gave the Mules a 40-38 lead. 
• Central Missouri led in double-figures the rest of the way and cruised to a 74-56 win.

It Was Over When...
• Maryville got to within six in the first minute of the second half, but in a four-minute span the Mules turned on the jets with a 17-5 run getting two threes from Wilkinson and one from Lowrance to put some distance between themselves and the Saints.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Lowrance led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field and knocking down a pair of threes.
• Blake Spellman was nearly perfect going 5-for-6 and 4-of-5 from three for 14 points with three assists.
• DJ Richardson chipped in with 12 points and three steals.
• Spencer Reaves pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and scored eight points.
• Clarence Smith and Matt Wilkinson each scored nine points. Wilkinson was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

For the Saints
• Forrester Sims scored 15 points and was 3-for-4 from three.
• Casey Teson added 10 points.
• Robin Thompson grabbed a team-high five rebounds and scored six points.

News and Notes
• Central Missouri blocked a season-high five shots in the game, two from Duane Clark, Jr. 
• For the first time this season the Mules committed fewer than 10 fouls. Their previous season-low was 14.
• The Mules have attempted more than 20 three-pointers in each of their first four games.
• Central Missouri held Maryville to 28 rebounds, the fewest for an opponent this season.

Up Next
• The Mules will head to Kansas City next week for a midweek match against East Central at Municipal Auditorium. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m.