KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 2, 2017) -- DJ Richardson hit a three-pointer with 1:23 to play in the game to put UCM ahead and the Mules salted the game away at the free throw line to beat Central Oklahoma 59-54 on Thursday afternoon in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals at Municipal Auditorium.

With the win, the Mules advance to Saturday's noon semifinal to face third-seeded Nebraska-Kearney.

The Mules (20-8) trailed 54-52 with just under 90 seconds to play when Richardson swished his three-pointer from the right wing as the shot clock was expiring. The Bronchos (17-12) got the ball back with 33 seconds left after a UCM miss, still trailing by one. Josh Holliday drove the lane with :13 on the clock, but his shot was no good and Clarence Smith secured the rebound for the Mules.

After a UCO timeout, Smith calmly hit both free throws to put UCM up 57-54. The Mules elected to foul Marquis Johnson as he crossed half court with :04 left. He missed both free throws, the second one intentionally, and Jakob Lowrance snagged the rebound for the Mules and hit both free throws to put the game away, 59-54, and send the Mules on to the next round.

The Mules got off to a strong start, leading 6-2 just two minutes in to the game and 8-2 by the 17:12 mark. UCM pushed the lead to seven at 11-4 only to see UCO go on an 8-2 run to pull within one at 13-12 with 11:16 to play first half.

Four points from Richardson and a layup by Jakob Lowrance pushed the lead back to seven at 19-12 with 9:54 left in the half. Again, the Bronchos rallied with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 19, but Spencer Reaves drilled a three-pointer and got fouled, he converted the four-point play and UCM led 23-19 with just under five to play. UCM pushed the lead to six at 27-21, but Central Oklahoma closed the half on a 7-0 run and led for the first time, 28-27, at halftime.

UCM quickly regained the lead out of the halftime break and a three-pointer from Kyle Wolf gave UCM a 34-30 lead at the 15:50 mark. The Mules pushed the lead to six at 42-36 on a three-pointer from Smith as the game see-sawed back and forth.

A 6-0 run from UCO gave the Bronchos a 45-44 lead with 6:32 to play but a layup from Wolf and a steal and breakaway layup for Richardson gave the Mules a 48-45 edge with 5:50 to play.

The game saw eight ties or lead changes the final 5:50 before Richardson's three-pointer put the Mules in front for good.

He led UCM with 18 points and four steals. Reaves had 13 points, five assists and four steals as well. Lowrance had eight points, six boards and two blocks off the bench, while Brad Woodson had a team-high nine rebounds.

Corbin Byford led UCO with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds. Holliday finished with 13 points, while Jordan London had five assists and three steals.

The Mules forced 20 Broncho turnovers and had 14 steals.

The win snaps a three-game losing streak to Central Oklahoma and gives the Mules a 3-0 record against UCO in MIAA Tournament games played in Kansas City.

Saturday's semifinal game against Nebraska-Kearney will tip at noon with airtime on the UCM Sports Network set for 11:35 a.m. with Greg Hassler on the call. UCM beat UNK in the only meeting this season, 77-72, back on Jan. 7 in Kearney, Neb.