TIP-OFF
• Central Missouri Mules Basketball continues MIAA play against a pair of in-state teams. The Mules host the Griffons of Missouri Western this Thursday, Dec. 14, and then will hit the road to Bolivar on Saturday, Dec. 16, to take on the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist. Tip-off for Thursday's game is set for 7:30 p.m., while Saturday's game is at 3:30 p.m.
• UCM had its five game winning streak come to an end this past Sunday as they fell to the top-ranked Bearcats of Northwest Missouri. It is just the team's second loss of the year and first in conference action. UCM is 7-2 overall with an 0-1 mark in the MIAA.
• The Mules were picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Missouri Western is 3-7 overall with a 1-2 record in conference play. MWSU has wins over Upper Iowa, Quincy, and MIAA foe Northeastern State.
• The Griffons were picked to finish last (14th) in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and tallied 18 points.
• Southwest Baptist is 5-4 overall with a 1-1 conference record. SBU is winners in four of its last five games, including a conference road win over Northeastern State.
• The Bearcats were picked to finish one spot ahead of the Griffons at 13th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and tallied 40 points.
ON THE AIR
• The games will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action.
• The games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/. It is a pay-per-view webcast.
PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
• This is the 113th season of Central Missouri Mules basketball.
• Central Missouri is third all-time in NCAA Division II men's basketball with 1,682 wins.
• The Mules have won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships overall (1937 & 1938 NAIB).
MULE FEED
• The Mules return one All-MIAA player from a season ago, senior guard
Spencer Reaves, who earned second team all-conference honors after averaging 17.1 points and 4.2 boards per game.
• The Mules averaged 73.1 points per game and shot 48.4 percent from the field last season. Defensively, UCM allowed 65.4 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting.
• 10 different players scored in double figures for the Mules in 2016-17 and five of those players return to the squad this year.
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Spencer Reaves is the only returning UCM player to record a double-double during the 2016-17 season. He scored in double figures in 29 of 30 games played, including 13 20-point performances.
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DJ Richardson is the only other returner besides Reaves who averaged double-figure points last season at 10.3 points per game.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSOURI WESTERN
• The Mules have a 36-28 series lead over the Griffons and have won 10 of the last 11 meetings since the 2011 season. The Griffons last defeated the Mules in 2015-16 season with a slim 63-62 victory in St. Joseph.
• In two meetings last season, UCM dispatched of MWSU by double digits in both games winning 76-59 on the road, and 81-68 at home. At the Multi, UCM is 21-7 all-time against MWSU.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
• The Mules are 43-23 all-time against the Bearcats and. The last meeting in Bolivar went in the Bearcats favor as they defeated the Mules 76-70 on their home court in the 2015-16 season.
• UCM routed SBU in the lone meeting last season with a 87-66 thrashing at the Multi. On the road, UCM is 16-14 all-time against SBU.
LAST MEETING WITH MISSOURI WESTERN
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 16, 2016) -- Central Missouri shot 72 percent in the second half and 62 percent for the game en route to an 81-68 win over Missouri Western on Monday evening at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The Mules held the Griffons to 37 percent shooting in the second half and 41 percent for the game.
The Griffons (5-11, 2-6 MIAA) got out to a quick start claiming an early six point lead at 9-3. They extended that lead to nine at 14-5 just under six minutes in to the game. An 8-2 spurt by the Mules (10-5, 4-3 MIAA) pulled them within three at 16-13 with 11:20 to go in the half, but the Griffons pushed back. Missouri Western went on a 6-0 spurt of its own to lead 22-13 with 10:12 left in the half.
Each time the Mules would crawl back to within four or five the Griffons had an answer. A jumper from Erick Locke and a three-pointer by
Jakob Lowrance pulled UCM within a pair at 29-27, but Aaron Emmanuel converted a three-point play to push the lead back to five at 32-27. The Mules closed the half on 9-1 run, however, and led 36-33 at the intermission.
The Griffons tied the game right out of halftime on a three-pointer by Cole Clearman, but a 7-0 run by UCM gave the Mules a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Missouri Western pulled back to within five at 43-38, but
Spencer Reaves hit a three-pointer to spark a 14-6 spurt that gave the Mules a 57-44 lead with 11:56 to play. Clearman and Emmanuel hit back-to-back threes to pull MWSU back within seven with 10:15 to play and the Griffons later got to within six at 60-54, but an 8-0 run put the Mules up 14 at 68-54, and essentially iced the game. The lead never dipped below 11 the rest of the way as the Mules swept the season series with the Griffons.
Lowrance led the Mules with 19 points off the bench.
DJ Richardson had 16 points, making his first start of the season, and Marquiez Lawrence recorded his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He also added three blocks. All 10 Mules to play in the game scored.
UCM was 24-of-39 from the field, including 9-of-14 from beyond the arc for 69 percent from three. UCM was also 24-of-30 at the free throw line. The Mules out-rebounded the Griffons 29-24 and held a 33-11 advantage in bench scoring.
LAST MEETING WITH SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Dec. 17, 2016) --
Jakob Lowrance led four Mules in double figures with a career-high 24 points as Central Missouri routed Southwest Baptist 87-66 on Saturday afternoon at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The Mules led by as many as 23 in the game as they improved to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play.
Lowrance got the offense going with a layup and later a three-pointer by Kyle Wolf tied the game 12-12 with 11:00 to play. A three from
Spencer Reaves on the next possession put UCM in front 15-12 and a pair of Wolf free throws pushed the lead to five. Four quick points from SBU pulled the Bearcats to within one, but Lowrance and Reaves connected on 3-of-4 free throws and UCM led 20-16 with 8:13 in the half.
The Bearcats got back to within one at 25-24 and 27-26, but five quick points by the Mules, a three from Reaves and a layup from Lowrance, made it 32-26 with 2:22 to play. UCM scored nine of the final 14 points of the half and led 41-31 at the intermission.
UCM scored 10 of the first 15 points out of the break to open a 51-36 lead with 16:52 to play in the game. The Bearcats made another push to get within 10 at 57-47 with 12:26 in regulation, but the Mules used an 11-0 run to open up a 21-point lead at 68-47 with 10:04 to play in the game.
The lead grew to 77-54 with 6:24 to play in the game as the Mules cruised to the win, their 13th straight over Southwest Baptist in Warrensburg.
Lowrance's career-high 24 was followed up by Reaves with 20, his fifth 20-point performance in nine games this season. Wolf had 16 and
DJ Richardson finished with a season-high 15. Lowrance also set a new career-high, pulling in a game-high nine rebounds.
The Mules were 28-of-52 from the field for 54 percent and made 9-of-21 from three-point range for 43 percent. UCM was 22-of-33 at the foul line for 67 percent.
The Mules out-rebounded SBU, who entered the game as the league's top rebounding team, 35-30 and outscored the Bearcats 36-24 in the paint. UCM turned 17 SBU turnovers in to 25 points.
SCOUTING MISSOURI WESTERN
• The Griffons went 7-21 last season with a 3-16 mark against MIAA opponents. They had their first win against a Division I opponent since 1980 last season.
• Lavon Hightower leads the way for the Griffons scoring and is the only player averaging double-digit points. He is averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the floor. He's second on the team in rebounds at 4.9 per game.
• Seth Bonifas is the second leading scorer for MWSU with 9.6 points per game. He leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per contest. He is shooting 56.2 percent from the floor and has four blocks on the year.
• Cole Clearman will look to be the third threat for the Griffons as he averages 9.2 points per game and leads the team in assists per game at 4.4 which ranks fifth bets in the MIAA. He shoots 40.0 percent from three-point range and averaging 3.1 boards per game.
• MWSU is averaging 66.9 points per game on 42.2 percent shooting, but is allowing 70.9 points per game on 43.0 percent shooting. On the road the Griffons are 0-2 so far this season.
SCOUTING SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
• The Bearcats finished 15-13 last season with a 8-11 record in MIAA play. They return three of their five starters from a season ago, including Third Team All-MIAA selection Logan Hovey.
• Hovey leads the team in scoring at 20.7 points per game which is second most in the MIAA. His 60.7 percent shooting is third bets in the league. Hovey also leads the team in rebounds with 8.4 per game.
• Marlon Alcindor checks in as the second leading scoring for SBU averaging 13.4 points per game. He has knocked down 26 three's this season and his 56.5 percent three-point field goal percentage is tied for first in the MIAA.
• Cartier Dean is the only other player averaging double-digit points for the Bearcats with 10.8 points per game. He is second on the team in assists per game with 2.0.
• SBU is the best three-point shooting team in the league with a 47.6 percent average per game. They also rank third in the league in rebounds per game averaging 38.2 boards per contest.
• The Bearcats are averaging 83.4 points per game, which is third most in the MIAA, and holding their opponents to 75.0 points per game. They shoot 49.0 percent from the floor which is fourth in the MIAA and limiting opponents to 42.6 which is fifth best in the MIAA.
LAST TIME OUT • NORTHWEST MISSOURI 79, CENTRAL MISSOURI 55 • 12/10/17
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Dec. 10, 2017)-- Central Missouri Mules Basketball suffered their second loss of the season and their first in conference action as they fell to MIAA foe Northwest Missouri State 79-55 Sunday afternoon at Multipurpose Building. With the loss, the Mules go to 7-2 overall and 0-1 in MIAA play.
• The Mules struggled to make shots in the first 20 minutes of action going 9-24 without any made triples on nine attempts. They finished the game 15-43 from the floor overall for 34.9%.
The Bearcats (10-0, 4-0 MIAA) shot the ball well in the first half finishing 62.5% (15-24) while going 9-16 from beyond the arc. Their strong first half help them finish the game 29-50 (58.0%), with 11 made threes on 29 attempts.
• UCM scored the first two points of the game, but never led after that point as Justin Pitts scored the next 11 points for NWMSU to grab a 11-2 lead.
Brandon Emmert broke scoring run for UCM with a quick layup off a
Spencer Reaves assist with 13:15 left to play.
• UCM kept things interesting with 5:57 to play in the half trailing by just five, 22-17, to NWMSU, but the team put up just five points after that, while giving up 18. UCM trailed by 18 going into the break.
• Trailing 40-22 at halftime, the Mules only committed five first half turnovers, and both teams were even in the paint with 12 points apiece. The difference maker was the bench scoring as the Bearcats outscored the Mules 15-2.
• UCM look to cut into the NWMSU lead to start the second half, but managed just six points in the first five minutes. Reaves accounted for four of the Mules six points with a triple and a made free throw.
• The Bearcats maintained a double-digit lead through the whole second half. The closest the Mules got to the Bearcats was with a made three by Reaves with 14:12 to play, making it a 16 point deficit, 50-34.
• NWMSU led by as much as 25 in the second half, but the Mules fought until the end.
Jakob Lowrance got it within 19 for UCM with a three at the 5:42 mark to bring the score to 67-48, but a 6-0 NWMSU run made it a 73-48 contest.
• After not making a single three, in the first 20 minutes, UCM made six triples in the second half to finish the night 6-19 from beyond the arc (31.6). It was not enough though as NMWSU walked away with the 24 point win.
• Reaves was the high scorer for UCM finishing the night with 19 points. He was just 5-13 from the floor, but created opportunities at the free throw line, going 6-8. He was 3-6 from three point range and grabbed five rebounds
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DJ Richardson put 12 points for the Mules and tied the game-high in steals with three.
• Lowrance was the third double figure scorer with 10 points on 4-10 shooting while pulling down six rebounds to tie the game-high.
MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• Central Missouri is 0-1 to start conference play for the first time since the 2012-13 season after dropping the league lidlifter at home to Northwest Missouri this past Sunday, Dec. 10, 79-55.
• UCM will look to avoid an 0-2 start in MIAA play for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• The Mules are 35-26 in conference play under
Doug Karleskint.
MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 7-1 in non-conference action this season after the win over Baker on Dec. 5.
• The Mules were 8-3 in non-conference games last season, including a 6-2 mark in regular season non-con games. They are 145-36 over the last 16 seasons.
• Central Missouri is 70-2 in the last 72 non-conference home games at the Multipurpose Building.
MULES AT HOME
• UCM is 2-2 at home this season after falling to Northwest Missouri 79-55 last Sunday and are 36-13 at home under
Doug Karleskint.
• UCM is 173-24 at home over the last 13 seasons, including 70-2 against non-conference opponents and 103-22 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 501-101 (.832) in their 42nd season playing home games at the Multipurpose Building.
MULES ON THE ROAD
• The Mules were 7-5 on the road last season.
• UCM is 17-17 in road games under
Doug Karleskint.
• The Mules game at Southwest Baptist will be their first true road game of the 2017-18 season.
1,000 POINT CLUB
• Senior
Spencer Reaves scored 512 points last season, averaging 17.1 points per game and in his first two seasons with the Mules he scored 869 career points.
• He has 161 points this season and now has 1,030 for his career. He is the 20th player in Mules Basketball History to eclipse 1,000 career points.
• Reaves 1,030 points now ranks 19th on the UCM career scoring list. He needs to score 81 points to move up to 18th all-time in UCM history.
MIAA STAT LEADERS - As of Dec. 13, 2017
•
Spencer Reaves is eighth in the MIAA in scoring and ninth in field goal percentage at 17.9 points per game and 54.5 percent.
• Lowrance is fifth in the MIAA in field goal percentage at 58.4 percent, while averaging 12.9 points per game. He is fifth in blocks with 1.2 per game.
• Reaves is second the MIAA free throw percentage at 88.1 percent on 37-42 made free throws.
• Lowrance is 12th in the league in rebounding averaging 6.3 rebounds per game. Reaves is tied for 16th with 5.8 rebounds per game.
•
Blake Spellman is averaging 3.8 assists per game which is 10th best in the MIAA. He is third in the league in assist-turnover ratio at 3.4.
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DJ Richardson is fifth in the conference in steals with 2.0 per game, while Reaves is tied for 12th at 1.3 steals per game.
UCM DURING THE KARLESKINT ERA
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Doug Karleskint has a record of 67-33 (.670) in his fourth season as head coach at Central Missouri and a 156-67 (.700) overall mark in his eighth season as a head coach.
• He became the first Mules' head coach to start his first season at UCM 7-0 when he accomplished the mark in 2014-15.
• His 25 wins in 2014-15 were the most by a first-year head coach in Central Missouri history.
• Karleskint became the fourth Mules' head coach to win at least 20 games in his first season.
• Before coming to UCM, he spent the previous five seasons at Arkansas Tech, including the last four as head coach. He compiled an 89-34 (.724) record with the Wonder Boys with four conference championships and four trips to the NCAA-II National Tournament, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2012.
MULES BASKETBALL HISTORY
• In the 113th season of UCM basketball, the Mules have compiled a 1,682-957 (.637) record in 2,639 total games.
• The Mules are the third winningest program by victories in NCAA-II history.
• Central Missouri is one of just four NCAA-II programs with 1,600 all-time wins.
• The Mules have won 20 or more games 24 times in the history of the program, including each of the last four seasons.
• Central Missouri has won 30 or more games in a season three times (2006-07, 2008-09, and 2013-14).
• UCM has won or shared 24 MIAA regular season championships and five MIAA tournament titles.
THE NEXT LEVEL
• In the past 16 years, 23 former UCM players have gone on to play professional basketball.
• Four players are either currently playing professionally or on a professional roster; Donte Adams (Conejos De Tuxtla (Mexico), Charles Hammork (Kosovo, Ylli Therande), Michael Hicks (Poland, Polpharma-Pakmet), and Zack Wright (Germany, Brose Basket).
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Central Missouri has won a combined 211 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured three MIAA regular season titles, one MIAA Tournament crown and two NCAA Regional Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 157 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won eight national championships during Hughes' tenure (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003, men's basketball in 2014, and women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015) and 10 national championships overall.
• In 2016-17, Central Missouri won the inaugural MIAA's Commissioner's Cup trophy for the conference's top overall athletic department.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 252 student-athletes named to the 2016-17 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 22 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned all-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 20 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had five student-athletes earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in their respective sports.
• All-time UCM is fourth in NCAA-II with 103 Academic All-Americans.
•
Carly Thomas of Jennies Bowling was awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last year.
UPCOMING
• The Mules will have some extended time off for the holidays before returning to action at home on Saturday, Dec. 30. UCM will host NAIA school Missouri Valley College for its final game of the 2017 calendar year. Tip-off against the Vikings is set for 2 p.m., at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
