TIP-OFF
• Central Missouri Mules Basketball hits the road again as MIAA play continues. The Mules will face a pair of conference foes they met earlier this season in the Northwest Missouri Bearcats and the Missouri Western Griffons. The Mules and Bearcats tip-off at 7:30 on Thursday, Jan. 11, and the game against the Griffons is set for a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday, Jan. 13.
• UCM has matched its season-long winning streak of five after defeating Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney last week and have won four straight MIAA games. UCM's winning streak started when they defeated MWSU, 67-51, back on Dec. 14.
• The Mules were picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Northwest Missouri is 13-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA. The Bearcats only loss came at the hand of the Missouri Southern Lions, 83-77, on Jan. 4 in Joplin. The Bearcats are currently ranked No. 4 in the latest NABC top-25 poll.
• The Bearcats were picked to finish first in MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and earned all 13 possible first place votes.
• Missouri Western is 3-10 this season overall with a 1-5 mark in league play. The Griffons are currently on a four-game losing streak and their lone MIAA win came against Northeastern State, 70-66, back on Dec. 2.
• The Lopers were picked to finish last (14th) in MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.

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 1,687 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.
• 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.
• 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. NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Mules and Bearcats are set to clash for the 218th time overall. Northwest Missouri has won the last six meetings against UCM, including a 79-55 victory earlier this season on Dec. 10, 2017. Since the turn of the decade UCM is 9-7 against Northwest Missouri.
• The Mules last defeated Northwest Missouri during the 2014-15 season with a 66-61 home victory on Jan. 17, 2015. In Maryville, the Bearcats are 54-51 against the Mules and have won the last three meetings.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSOURI WESTERN
• The Mules have a 37-28 series lead over the Griffons after and have won 11 of the last 12 meetings since the 2011 season. The Griffons last defeated the Mules in 2015-16 season with a slim 63-62 victory in St. Joseph.
• UCM dispatched of MWSU earlier this season on Dec. 14, 2017 by double digits winning 67-51 at the Multi. On the road, UCM has struggled against MWSU in St. Joseph with a 12-21 record all-time.

LAST MEETING WITH NORTHWEST MISSOURI
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.
• The Mules looked to keep it under double-digits, but missed shots continued to hinder them, while the Bearcats continued to push the tempo on offense.
• 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. 
• 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
• Justin Pitts scored a game-high 29 points for NWMSU and had just two missed shots of the night (11-13). He was 4-6 from beyond the arc and dished out seven assists while grabbing three steals. 

LAST MEETING WITH MISSOURI WESTERN
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Dec. 14, 2017)-- Central Missouri Mules Basketball earned their first MIAA win of the season as they took down the Missouri Western State Griffons, 67-51, at home Thursday night. Jakob Lowrance scored a career-high 28 points as the Mules improved to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
• The Mules shot 53.3% from the floor (24-45) and limited the Griffons (3-8, 1-3 MIAA) to 35.8% for the night on 19-53 shooting. The Mules also forced 16 turnovers which they converted to 15 points.
• UCM used two scoring runs in the first half to help establish a 15 point lead by halftime. The Mules did commit eight first half turnovers, but won the rebound battle 19-10.
• The Mules shot the ball well in the first half going 14-24 from the floor for 58.3%, while limiting the Griffons to 8-27 (29.6%). Both teams had just two made triples, but Griffons took six more attempts than the Mules, 10-4.
• MWSU led 13-12 with 11:39 to play in the half, but a 9-0 run by UCM changed the pace of the game. MWSU never led the rest of the game, while UCM continued to push the tempo on offense.
• Lowrance was a force in the paint in the first 20 minutes scoring 12 points on 5-6 shooting (83.3%) and UCM outscored MWSU 22-6 in the paint as well. DJ Richardson was not far behind Lowrance scoring nine in the first half.
• It took some time to get a double-digit lead for the Mules as they got up by 10, 26-16, with 4:26 left to play in the half. Lavon Hightower got the Griffons within seven with a three on the next possession, but an 8-0 run to close out the half help the Mules get back in front going into the break.
• UCM extended its 8-0 run from the end of the first half into 12-0 in the start of the second frame. Lowrance continued to dominate for the Mules scoring 16 second half points en route to his career night.
• The Mules run from the first into the second help them establish their largest of the night at 19 points with 17:45 to play. Trailing 38-21, the Griffons used a 10-2 run to get within nine, 40-31, with just over 13:30 to play in regulation.
• UCM extended its back to double digits, 45-32, with 11:19 to play thanks to a triple by Lowrance and a jumper in the paint by Richardson.
• Spencer Reaves was fouled on a drive with 8:43 left on the clock, setting him up for two free throws that he nailed to give the Mules a 47-32 to end the scoring drought. Both teams went back and forth in the final eight minutes.
• The Griffons got their deficit to under double-digits one last time, trailing 60-51 with 2:01 to play. They were down 57-41 with 4:40 left to play and used a 10-3 run to make one last push against the Mules.
• The run was too little too late as UCM put up seven points in the final two minutes and held the Griffons scoreless to walk away with the 16 point win.
• Lowrance finished the night going 11-13 from the floor for his 28 points. He was 2-3 from beyond the arc and pulled down nine rebounds.
• Hightower was the only MWSU players to score in double figures with 11 points. He was just 3-12 from the floor, but went 4-6 at the free throw line. He also led the team in rebounds with six and had two steals on the night.

SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Bearcats finished 35-1 last season to win the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship. Northwest Missouri went 18-1 against MIAA opponents while claiming both the regular season and tournament title.
• Justin Pitts continues to lead the Bearcats offense averaging an MIAA leading 22.7 points per game. He is first in free throw percentage (90.5), fourth in the league in field goal percentage (54.7), and second in assists per game (5.4).
• Chris-Ebou Ndow is the second leading scoring for Northwest Missouri averaging 14.2 points per game and is pulling down a team best 7.6 rebounds per game, which is tied for fourth in the MIAA. He is second on the team in steals with 16 behind Pitts with 25. He leads the team in three-point percentage at 53.7 which leads the MIAA.
• Joey Withus checks in as the third leading scorer at 11.4 points per game. He is tied for the team lead in blocked shots with six. 
• Brett Dougherty is the final double figure scorer for NWMSU averaging 10.1 points per game. He is second on the team in rebounds per game with 3.4
• As a team, the Bearcats are allowing just 59.8.1 points per game which leads not only the MIAA, but of all Division II this season.. They average 79.7 points per game on 51.3 percent shooting, which leads the MIAA and is eighth highest in Division II.

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 continues leads the way for the Griffons scoring and is the only player averaging double figures with 14.0 points per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the floor. He leads the team in rebounds at 5.3 per game.
• Seth Bonifas is the second leading scorer for MWSU with 8.3 points per game. He's second in reounds with 5.5 boards per contest. He is shooting 55.3 percent from the floor and has four blocks on the year.
• Cole Clearman is right behind Bonifas averaging 8.2 points per game. He leads the team in assists per game at 3.6 which ranks 10th best in the MIAA. He is also averaging 3.1 boards per game.
• MWSU is averaging 66.4 points per game on 41.3 percent shooting, but is allowing 71.5 points per game on 43.1 percent shooting. All three of the Griffons wins this season have come at home.

LAST TIME OUT • CENTRAL MISSOURI 88 , NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 81 (OT)  • 1/6/18
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 6, 2018)-- It took an overtime period, but Mules Basketball picked up their fifth straight win as they held off the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers, 88-81, Saturday afternoon at the UCM Multipurpose Building. Jakob Lowrance led the Central Missouri with a double-double scoring 21 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. With the win the Mules improve to 12-2 overall and 4-1 MIAA play.
• The Lopers (6-9, 2-4 MIAA) did outshoot the Mules from the floor 51.8% to 37.3%, but 18 turnovers that were converted to 17 UCM points help secure the home win for the Mules. The game produced 13 ties and 10 lead changes as the two teams went back-and-forth the whole time. 
• Early in the game, the Mules found themselves down three, 5-2, to the Lopers, but a 6-0 run gave them a 8-5 lead with 16:39 to play in the half. From that point on they traded shots and neither team led by more than four.
• UCM managed to grab two four point leads in the first half, both with under 10 minutes to play. Lowrance led the way for the Mules scoring 10 of his 21 in the first half. Blake Spellman was not far behind scoring eight in the first frame. Lowrance and Spencer Reaves both nailed two triples to as the Mules shot 41.4% from the floor in the first half (12-29). The Mules made two more triples than the Lopers, 5-3, and forced five first half turnovers. 
• With 4:09 to play, UCM held a 31-27 lead, but UNK scored five straight to lead 32-31. UCM responded closing out the half scoring four in a row to lead 35-32 at the break. Coming out of halftime, The 4-0 UCM run grew to 7-0 as Lowrance drove the lane for a layup and drew contact for the free throw attempt, which he made. UCM led 38-32 early in the second frame
• The second half was no different from the first twenty minutes as neither team created separation. Lowrance continued his strong play from the first half scoring seven in the second half. Reaves and Spellman both continued to play well as they scored eight and seven respectively.
• As the game reached the final five minutes of play, UNK held a one point lead, 58-57, and the two teams combined for 20 free throws. UCM went 8-10, while UNK went 9-10. Spellman took the final four attempts for the Mules with :12 to play, but went just 2-4. He gave UCM a 74-71 lead with :05 to play, but UNK drew contact on a three-point attempt on the next possession and made all three shots at the charity strip to send it to overtime.
• Lowrance dominated in overtime going 2-2 in the paint to score four points for the Mules. Reaves and DJ Richardson came up big at the free throw line going a combined 10-10 to help the Mules secure the seven point win at home.
• As a team, UCM matched a season-low in assists with just five, but in the second half and overtime they had just one combined turnover, while forcing six by UNK. For the game, the Mules finished 29-33 from the charity strip (87.9) and their bench outscored the Loper's 19-7.
• Lowrance notched his second double-double of the season with his 21 points and 11 rebounds. He went 9-22 from the field with two made triples and two blocks in 33 minutes of action.
• Trey Lansman led the way for UNK scoring a game-high 34 points and pulling down a game-high 16 rebounds. He was 10-19 from the floor and went 11-13 at the free throw line. He also tabbed four steals and had two blocked shots.

MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• Central Missouri is 4-1 in conference play with wins over Missouri Western, Southwest Baptist, Fort Hays State, and Nebraska-Kearney. UCM's only MIAA loss came in the league lidlifter at home to Northwest Missouri, 79-55, on Dec. 10, 2017.
• UCM is winners of four straight conference games and currently sits fourth in the standings.
• The Mules are 39-26 in conference play under Doug Karleskint.

MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules went 8-1 in non-conference action after a 26 point win, 87-61, over Missouri Valley College on Dec. 30, 2017.
• The Mules were 8-3 in non-conference games last season, including a 6-2 mark in regular season non-con games. They are 146-36 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 6-2 at home this season after earning wins over MIAA foes Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney. They are 41-13 at home under Doug Karleskint.
• UCM is 177-24 at home over the last 13 seasons, including 71-2 against non-conference opponents and 106-22 in MIAA play. 
• The Mules are 505-101 (.833) in their 42nd season playing home games at the Multipurpose Building.

MULES ON THE ROAD
• UCM is 1-0 on the road this season after defeating Southwest Baptist 78-76 back on Dec. 16.
• The Mules were 7-5 on the road last season.
• UCM is 18-17 in road games under Doug Karleskint.

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 233 points this season and1,102 for his career thus far. He is the 20th player in Mules Basketball History to eclipse 1,000 career points.
• Reaves 1,102 points ranks 19th on the UCM career scoring list. He needs to score nine more points to move up to 18th all-time in UCM history.

MIAA STAT LEADERS
• Defense continues to shine for the Mules as they are allowing just 64.1 points per game which ranks second-best in the MIAA in scoring defense this season and is tied for 13th best in all of Division II.
• Spencer Reaves is eighth in the MIAA in scoring and 11th in field goal percentage at 16.6 points per game and 49.7 percent.
• Lowrance is third in the MIAA in field goal percentage at 59.0 percent, while averaging 15.4 points per game which is 14th best in the league. He is tied for sixth in blocks with 1.1 per game.
• DJ Richardson and Reaves are tied for second the MIAA free throw percentage at 90.0 percent. Both are 54-60 at the free throw line this season.
• Lowrance is 11th in the league in rebounding averaging 6.3 rebounds per game. Reaves is tied for 21st with 5.1 rebounds per game.
• Blake Spellman is averaging 3.9 assists per game which is tied for sixth best in the MIAA. He is second the league in assist-turnover ratio at 3.6, which is eighth in Division II this season. 
• Richardson is tied for third in the conference in steals with 1.9 per game. Reaves are tied for 11th at 1.3 steals per game, while Clarence Smith is 15th at 1.2 per game.

UCM DURING THE KARLESKINT ERA
• Doug Karleskint has a record of 72-33 (.686) in his fourth season as head coach at Central Missouri and a 161-67 (.706) 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 1,687-957 (.638) record in 2,644 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 are back home at the Multi next week following their two-game road swing. They will host a pair of in-state MIAA foes in the Lincoln Blue Tigers and the Lindenwood Lions.
• UCM will tip-off against Lincoln on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Following that game, UCM and Lindenwood will square off on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 3:30 p.m.