Reaves Leads Mules in 14 Point Win Over East Central

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 21, 2017)-- Central Missouri Mules Basketball picked up their second straight win and fourth overall as they took down the East Central Tigers 72-58 at Municipal Auditorium on Tuesday night. Spencer Reaves scored a season-high 30 points for the Mules as they improved to 4-1 overall.
 
How It Happened
• UCM played well on defense for the game limiting the Tigers (2-1) to 37.9% shooting on 22-of-58 shooting and forcing 14 turnovers. The Mules converted those 14 turnovers into 19 points and shot 24-of-52 from the floor for 46.2%.
• The Mules got off to a solid start shooting 48% from the floor on 12-of-25 shooting in the first 20 minutes of action. Reaves accounted for 21 of the Mules 36 first half points as he went 8-of-10 shooting with three made triples.
• The two teams traded shots in the first three minutes of play to keep the game tied at 5-5 with 17:28 left to play. The Mules separated from the Tigers using an 11-1 run to lead 16-6 with 10:48 to play in the first half. 
• Reaves got the 11-1 run going for the Mules with a jumper and on the next possession for UCM he found Jakob Lowrance for a three pointer to make it a 10-5 lead. A combination of turnovers and fouls by the Tigers help push the Mules lead to 10 as four of their next six points came at the charity strip.
• East Central made shots with 10 minutes to play in the half to keep the game within single digits, but the Mules used another run to get back up by double digits. Leading by six, 18-12, Reaves scored the Mules next 10 points to give them a 28-13 lead with 4:40 on the clock.
• The Mules led by as much as 19 in the first half when they got up 34-15 with 3:19 to play thanks to triples by Clarence Smith and Blake Spellman. The Tigers did respond going on an 11-2 run to end the half, and cut the Mules lead to 36-26.
• Both teams went on quick scoring runs to start the second half. The Mules opened the half with a 5-0 run to lead 41-26, but the Tigers used a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to six yet again, this time 41-35. The Mules extended the lead back to 10 with the help of a layup by Brandon Emmert and free throws by Smith.
• The teams went back-and-forth with 13:02 to play until the under 10 minute media timeout at the 9:26 mark. Coming out of the quick break leading 57-45, UCM outscored East Central 12-5 to give them another 19 point lead, 69-50, matching their largest of the game.
• The Tigers never got within 10 of the Mules ever again. Part of the Mules surge with less than 10 minutes to play was a 9-0 run with 7:21 to play as they led 60-50. The run included a long-range three from DJ Richardson and a tough driving layup by Matt Wilkinson to make it 69-50 Mules.
• UCM played well for the game as they held on for the 14 point win and handed the Tigers their first loss of the year.
 
It was Over When...
• The Mules 12-5 run in a span of exactly five minutes from the 9:26 mark to the 4:26 mark help put to rest the Tigers chance at a comeback. Richardson accounted for the five of the Mules 12 points to help the Mules lead 69-50. The Mules also held the Tigers to just eight points in the final four minutes to secure the win.
 
Mules Stat Leaders
• Reaves led all scorers with a season-high 30 points. He was 11-of-17 shooting and went 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. He was a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line, grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists and had two steals.
• Richardson was the second leading scorer for UCM with 13 points. He was 4-of-9 shooting and had a game-high three steals.
• Smith put up 12 points and had five boards. He did not miss a free throw going 4-of-4 from the charity strip.
• Lowrance grabbed a team-high six rebounds and scored seven points to finish the night.
 
For Tigers
• Da'Rion King posted a double-double for the Tigers scoring 16 points to lead the team and pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds. He was 7-of-14 from the floor for East Central.
• Camron Talley and Marcus Lytle each scored 11 points for the Tigers and were the only other players to score in double-figures. Lytle also pulled down eight boards for East Central.
• Brett Cannon chipped in nine points and grabbed six rebounds.
 
News and Notes
• Reaves 30 point game is just the second in his career. It is his 20th career game scoring in double-figures.
• Reaves 30 points scored puts his career total at 954. He is just 46 points shy of eclipsing 1,000 career points. He needs just 44 points to enter the Mules top 20 all-time career scoring list.
• The Mules improve to 4-1 for the second consecutive season. They are now 3-0 in neutral site games this season.
• UCM moves to 2-1 all-time against the Tigers.
 
Up Next
The Mules will have a few days before returning to action this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24 and 25, at the Emporia State Thanksgiving Classic. UCM will take on Rockhurst Friday and will follow that game up against Newman on Saturday. Tip-off for both games is set for 5 p.m.