Mules Drop Tough Game Against Lions

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 20, 2018)-- Central Missouri Mules Basketball played a tough game for 40 minutes against the Lindenwood Lions but came up short of comeback, falling 72-63 on Saturday afternoon in the Multipurpose Building. Three Mules finished in double figures with Spencer Reaves scoring a game-high 20 points. UCM is now 14-4 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA.

How It Happened
• The Mules shot the ball well going 23-47 for 48.9% from the floor, but the Lions (13-6, 5-5 MIAA) kept in front the majority of the night on 56.0% shooting (28-50). Both teams took care of the ball as the Mules finished with one less turnover than the Lions, 8-9. The biggest differences came from points in the paint and rebounds, as the Mules were outscored 34-16 in the post and out-rebounded 31-20.
• The first half saw UCM and Lindenwood tie the game six times and have six lead changes. UCM's largest lead was five, 18-13, with 9:29 top play. Lindenwood grabbed a six-point lead, 36-30, right as the first half came to a close. Both teams battled but never manged to separate before the break.
• Reaves scored 12 points in the first 20 minutes to pace the Mules on 5-6 shooting. The Lions produced two double figure scorers in the first half as TJ Crockett and Dominique Dobbs scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Mules shot 46.2% in the first 20 minutes of play on 12-26 shooting, but the Lions led by six going into the break due to 64.0% shooting (16-25) in the first half. The Mules had three less turnovers, 5-2, but the Lions had the upper hand scoring in points and the paint, 18-6, and bench points, 12-2.
• A 6-0 run by Lindenwood to end the first half extended to 14-0 to give the visitors a double-digit lead, 42-30. In the first four minutes of the second half, the Lions outscored the Mules 10-4  to lead 46-34 with 16 minutes to play in regulation.
• Despite being down by double figures, the Mules continued to battle and made things interesting down the stretch. After a made three by Adam Pohlman at the 11:18 mark, the Lions led the Mules by 13, 54-31, for their largest lead of the game. The Mules did not give up though as they went on an 8-0 run, to cut the deficit their five, 54-49 with 7:56 to play in the game.
• Blake Spellman capped the Mules 8-0 run with a three pointer. Dobbs looked to respond for Lindenwood with a layup on the next possession, but Spellman came down right after and nailed his second-straight three to get UCM within four, 56-52, with 6:40 to play.
• The Mules made one last push and got within three of the Lions, 57-54, with just over three minutes to play, but back-to-back layups and solid free throw shooting (9-10) in the final minute by the Lions help them secure the nine-point road win.
• Both teams committed just four turnovers in the second frame, but the Lions out-rebounded the Mules 16-12 in the half, and put up eight more points in the paint, 18-10. 

It Was Over When...
• With just over 2:30 to play, the Mules were down just three, 57-54, but back-to-back turnovers by Jakob Lowrance and DJ Richardson led to two quick transition layups by the Lions. Up by seven, the Lions made just one more shot from the floor, then went on to shoot 9-10 from the charity strip to earn the 63-72 win.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Reaves scored his game-high 20 points on 7-10 shooting. He was 5-6 from the free throw line and grabbed a team-high seven boards.
• Richardson added 13 points. He was 5-14 from the floor and added three rebounds.
• Lowrance put 12 points on a perfect 4-4 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. He was also 2-2 from three-point range and the charity strip, respectively.
• Spellman chipped in eight points and dished out two assists. 

For the Lions
• Dobbs was perfect from the floor scoring 19 points on 9-9 shooting. He also grabbed three rebounds for Lindenwood.
• Brad Newman finished with 18 points on 6-10 shooting. He was 5-5 from the charity strip.
• Chandler Diekvoss put up a double-double, scoring 13 points and pulling down 10 boards. He also had a game-high five assists.
• Jackson Price was the final double figure scorer as he chipped in 12 points. He also pulled down four rebounds and had four assists.

News and Notes
• UCM has now dropped two straight home games to the Lions. Prior to the 2016-17 season, UCM 6-0 against Lindenwood at the Mutli. Under Doug Karleskint, the Mules are now 4-3 against the Lions.
• The Mules fall to 7-3 at the Multi this season and are 42-14 overall under Doug Karleskint.
• The Mules are now 4-3 this season when they score between 61-70 points and 1-3 when they let opponents score between 71-80 points.
• With his 20 points scored, Reaves now has 1,158 for his career and sits alone at 15th all-time on the Mules career scoring list. He needs 12 points to move up to 14th all-time in Mules Basketball history.
• Richardson and Lowrance have now scored in double figures in 16 and 10 consecutive games, respectively.

Up Next
• The Mules will hit the road again, this time to Kansas, for another two-game stretch against Emporia State and Washburn. They will take on the Emporia State Hornets Wednesday, Jan. 24. Following that game they are at Washburn on Saturday, Jan. 27, to take on the Ichabods. Tip-off for both games is set for 7:30 pm and 3 pm, respectively.