BOLIVAR, Mo. (Nov. 29, 2018) – Central Missouri Mules Basketball dropped their second straight and their conference opener, on the road at SBU. A close game ended up being a 10-point win for the Bearcats, 72-62, as the Mules fall to 5-3, 0-1 MIAA this season.

How It Happened
• The Mules outshot the Bearcats, 42%-40% and each team hit 29% of their three-pointers.
• UCM had a big advantage with 43 rebounds to 35 for SBU.
• Both teams shot below 70% at the free throw line as UCM went 17-27 and SBU 16-23.
• Turnovers played a big role as the Mules lost the ball 19 times and the Bearcats just 11.
• The first half was almost a tale of two halves. The Bearcats raced out to a 10-2 lead, getting a monstrous ally-oop for their first points of the game.
• With 3:47 left, the Bearcats still led by 10, 25-15 until the Mules started to mount their comeback.
• Jafar Kinsey hit back-to-back three to cut the lead to five, and Blake Spellman followed with a three of his own and the Mules trailed by just two, 28-26 with 1:34 left.
• Gaven Pinkley slammed home a dunk on the Mules final possession as the Mules came all the way back from down 11 to tie at intermission. The Mules closed the half on a 7-0 run as the Bearcats were scoreless over the final 2:12.
• Neither team gained more than a five-point edge for most of the half. A Michael Winger three and Gaven Pinkley layup put UCM on a 5-0 run to tie at 53.
• The Mules regained a 58-55 lead, but the Bearcats went on a 9-0 run to take their largest lead of the half, 64-58.
• UCM couldn't get any closer than four the rest of the way and the Bearcats pulled away at the line for a 72-62 win.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Blake Spellman led UCM scoring 14 points with four three-pointers.
• Daniel Farris filled the stat sheet with 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
• Gaven PInkley scored 13 on 6-11 shooting.
• Matt Wilkinson was 8-8 at the free throw line and grabbed six rebounds.

For the Bearcats
• Karim Mouliom led the scoring with 19 points and had eight rebounds.
• Chris Rossow scored 12 with seven assists.
• Godfrey Rolle scored 13 and Damian Prgomet 11, each with six rebounds.

It Was Over When…
• The Mules were down six with the ball when they lost possession and were charged a technical foul. The Bearcats sank both free throws and went on to win by 10.

News and Notes
• The Mules have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
• The 62 points are a season-low.
• UCM matched a season-high with 43 rebounds, but also committed a season-high 19 turnovers.
• The win is only the Bearcats second against UCM since 2011-12.
• Jafar Kinsey exited in the first half with an injury.

Up Next
• The Mules will have some time to lick their wounds, they are off until next Saturday, Dec. 8 when they play Washburn in Topeka.