Mules Kick Off 2018-19 With Win Over Harding

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 9, 2018) - Central Missouri Mules Basketball couldn't have scripted a better start to the 2018-19 season. The Mules jumped all over Harding in their 85-62 win in the season opener.

How it Happened
• The Mules were hot from the get go and finished shooting 56.1% from the floor while hitting 9-of-23 from three.
• Central Missouri's tenacious defense forced 18 turnovers with 12 steals, while committing only eight turnovers themselves.
• UCM turned those 18 turnovers into 29 points and scored eight in transition. 
• It wasn't just the outside shot that was working for UCM as they scored 46 points in the paint.
• Everyone contributed to the win with all 11 who saw action scoring and getting 40 points off the bench.
• The Mules scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed. Harding was forced to call a timeout 3:25 into the game after a Matt Wilkinson three made it 7-0.
• UCM kept up the pace and six minutes in led 15-1 after a layup from Brandon Emmert.
• The game was never in question after that. UCM held the Bisons scoreless over the last 4:03 of the half and tacked on five more in the final two minutes with a three from Blake Spellman and a layup from Wilkinson.
• Jakob Lowrance, quiet in the first half due to foul trouble, made his presence felt with a layup making it a 30-point lead, 56-26.
• Harding tried to fight back, and nearly cut that 30-point deficit in half, down to 16 at one point, 73-57, but it was too much to overcome and UCM was able to cruise to an 85-62 win.

It Was Over When...
• The Mules put this one away early. Harding's first field goal came at the 11:48 mark of the first half, a three pointer that was immediately answered by a Blake Spellman three as the Mules went on top by 15, 21-6. That was the beginning of a trend as everything the Bisons did, Central Missouri was right there to answer.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Gaven Pinkley endeared himself to Mules fans very early. The freshman scored on his first attempt, an up-and-under five minutes into the game. It only got better from there. He went 6-of-6 from the floor for a game-high 14 points and 10 rebounds in his Mule debut.
• Blake Spellman was on fire early from three and finished with 12 points including three triples. He also dished out six assists.
• Daniel Farris had a nice game with 13 points and four assists along with three rebounds.
• Matt Wilkinson was in double-figures with 11 points. As was Brandon Emmert with 10. They each hit four field goals and Emmert pulled down six rebounds. 

For the Bisons
• JV Long and Gabriel Divic shared the team lead with 10 points.
• Long also grabbed a team-best five rebounds and dished out six assists.
• Jordan West scored nine points and was 4-6 from the field.

News and Notes
• This is the first win in program history over Harding in just two all-time matchups.
• Daniel Farris' 13 points are a career-best
• Redshirt freshman Dawson Jones saw his first career action and scored two points and blocked a shot in three minutes.
• Jakob Lowrance continues his march to 1,000 points. His seven give him 924 for his career.
• The Mules reached 80 points only five times last year and two were overtime games. Their first didn't come until Dec. 30 against Missouri Valley.

Up Next
• The Mules will go head-to-head with Wayne State tomorrow night at 8 p.m. The Wildcats defeated Pittsburg State here in Warrensburg this evening.