WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Dec. 12, 2018) - Behind a career-night from sophomore
Brandon Emmert, and four Mules in double-figures, Mules Basketball was able to fight back from down nine in the second-half for a 76-75 win over a tough MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneer Team. The win moves the Mules to 6-4 this season.
How it Happened
• The Pioneers outshot the Mules hitting 54% of their field goal attempts to the Mules 43%.
• Both teams knocked in seven three-pointers and UCM added one more free throw, 15-14.
• Turnovers played a big role as the Pioneers committed 19 leading to 18 Mules points, while the Mules lost the ball just 12 times.
• MidAmerica outrebounded UCM 33-30, but the Mules collected 10 offensive rebounds and turned those into 16 second-chance points.
• Eight times the score was tied and there were six lead changes.
• The teams traded baskets at the outset with neither getting more than a two-possession lead. UCM changed that though with a 6-0 run to take their largest lead, 30-22 with 6:20 left in the first half.
• The Pioneers though close the half on a 14-7 stretch to cut the lead back down to one, 37-36 at the break.
• Picking up in the second half, the Pioneers hit a three on their opening possession to take the lead, 39-37. After Emmert retied the game at 39-all, the visitor's knocked in another three and led from 18:38 all the way to 3:04 left in the game.
• A dunk and a three from the Pioneers extended their lead to a game-high nine with 7:14 left to play, 67-58.
• From that point, UCM went on a 13-3 run over 4:10 and took their first lead, 71-70, since the first half.
Blake Spellman went 4-4 at the free throw line during the stretch and there was Emmert again with an old-fashioned three-point play to put the Mules on top.
• MidAmerica retied though and with 1:41 left, Emmert picked up an offensive rebound and put back the layup to put UCM ahead for good.
• In the final 1:41, the Pioneers had chances, but went 1-4. One of those misses a big block from Emmert that would have tied the game with 1:13 left.
• Down four, the Pioneers hit a three with just three seconds left and put Emmert to the line with one second. Although he missed both, the Pioneers couldn't get a final desperation shot off on the defensive rebound.
It Was Over When...
• This one went down to the final buzzer.
Brandon Emmert scored 26, but went 0-2 at the line with one second left on the clock. The Pioneers pulled down the rebound, but couldn't get a clean shot off as the buzzer sounded.
Mules Stat Leaders
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Brandon Emmert led all scorers with 26 points on 10-13 shooting. He also fell a rebound shy of a double-double with nine and had four steals.
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Blake Spellman added 14 points and was 6-6 at the free throw line with four assists.
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Gaven Pinkley scored 12 with seven rebounds.
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Michael Winger was the fourth Mule in double-figures with 11, including three triples.
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Daniel Farris scored six while passing out four assists.
For the Pioneers
• Jonathan Green picked up a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• Dakota Quinn added 15 points and nine boards while blocking five shots.
• Kellan Turner came off the bench to score 12.
News and Notes
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Brandon Emmert's 26 points are a career-high and the most at Mule has scored in a game this season, as are his 10 made field goals. He also surpassed the 100 career rebound mark.
• The nine point deficit is the third largest the Mules have overcome in a game this season.
• This is the third time the Mules have squared off with the Pioneers, all during the
Doug Karleskint era. UCM is 3-0.
• Central Missouri is now 6-4 under Coach Karleskint in games decided by one point.
• This is the second time this season an opponent has shot better than 50% from the floor. UCM is 2-0 in those games.
Up Next
• Long layoff for the Mules. They are back in action after the holiday Saturday, Dec. 29 against Avila with a 2 p.m. tipoff.
