TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Feb. 4, 2017) -- Central Missouri used a 9-0 run early in the first half to grab the lead and never looked back en route to a 78-58 win at Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon.

The RiverHawks (3-18, 2-11 MIAA) led 3-0 early in the game and held the Mules (15-6, 9-4 MIAA) scoreless for nearly three minutes, but Spencer Reaves hit a three-pointer to get UCM on the board and it started a 9-0 spurt that put UCM in front with 15:48 to play in the first half.

The Mules pushed the lead to 11, thanks in part to a technical foul on the NSU bench that gave the Mules a four-point possession. UCM led 18-7 with 13 minutes to play. The RiverHawks battled back, however, getting within five at 20-15 by the 8:27 mark. The lead was six, 28-22, when Dushaun Rice hit two foul shots and Kyle Wolf scored on a jumper to push the lead to 10. The lead grew to 14 at 38-24 on layups from Brad Woodson and Reaves later in the half and the Mules led 42-30 at halftime.

NSU got the lead back to single digits at nine early in the second half, but a layup from Wolf and a three from Rice quickly pushed the lead back to 14. DJ Richardson added two free throws and Marquiez Lawrence scored on lay-in and the Mules led 56-37 with 14:18 to play in the game. The RiverHawks got back to within 13 at the 11:52 mark, but that was as close as they'd get. 

The Mules led by as many as 20 in the second half and ended the game with a 20-point win to stay in no worse than a tie for second place in the MIAA standings.

Reaves led UCM with 20 points, with 19 coming in the first half. Lawrence had 14 and Rice finished with 11. Wolf recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. His first of the season and third of his career.

The Mules shot 48 percent (26-54) for the game, but were just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc. UCM was 23-of-31 at the foul line. The Mules out-rebounded the RiverHawks 42-41 and held a 42-20 advantage in points in the paint.

Tyler Williams led NSU with 14 points as the RiverHawks shot 31 percent (19-62) for the game. 

The Mules are back in action on Wednesday night at Pittsburg State. Tip-off at John Lance Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.