OPPONENT: Washburn Ichabods                  

WHERE: Topeka, Kan. 

WHEN: Saturday, December 8 - 3:00 p.m.

TIP-OFF

• Central Missouri Mules Basketball is back on the road, yet again for their fourth straight road game.  
• The Mules started the season 4-0 for the third time in Coach Karleskint's first five years. All four games have been at home to start the year.
• The Mules were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll
• This past week, the Mules fell in the MIAA opener to Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo 62-72 where three Mules scored double-digits. Blake Spellman led the Mules with 14-points, Gaven Pinkley added 13-points, and Daniel Farris contributed 11-points and six rebounds.
• Washburn, on the other hand, sits at 6-1 on the season thus far after stepping into MIAA play Thursday, when they defeated the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist 97-72 at home. 
• The Ichabods are currently on a five-game winning streak after falling to Southern Nazarene back in mid-November. 
• The Ichabods were selected third in the 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 game will be web streamed on the miaanetwork, and live stats will be available from sbubearcats.com

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
• This is the 114th season of Central Missouri Mules basketball.
• 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 seven letter winners from last season as well as three redshirts to their 2018-19 team while adding five transfers and only one true freshman to the program. 
• The Mules averaged 71.6 points per game and shot 48.2 percent from the field last season. Defensively, UCM allowed 66.3 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting.
• Back this season are three starters from a year ago: Jakob Lowrance, Blake Spellman, and Matt Wilkinson.
• This season the Mules are averaging 75.2 points per contest and shooting 46 percent from the field.
• Defensively, UCM allows 71.5 points per contest on 42.8 percent shooting.

SERIES HISTORY

• The WU and UCM series started about 107 years ago. The two teams first met in 1911, making this the second longest series for UCM, and its been a back and forth battle ever since.
• The Ichabods jumped out on top first, winning the first meetings, the Mules answered by winning the next three meetings from 1937-1942. 
• All-time the Mules lead the Ichabods 51-48 overall 27-15 in the Multi, 20-29 in Topeka, Kan, and are tied 4-4 at neutral sites.

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS

• The Washburn Ichabods enter the 2018-19 season 5-1 after going 1-1 at home earlier this week. The Ichabods hosted Southwest Baptist and hosted Ozark Christian College and defeated them 97-72, to kick off MIAA play. 
• The Ichabods are scoring 84.0 points per game, shooting 45.4 percent from the field as a team 36 percent from behind the arc, and 67 percent from the free-throw line. 
• WU is lead by two players who are averaging double-digits early this season. 
• Javion Blake, a 6-3 senior guard, leads the Ichabods in points, field goals made, three-pointers made, and free-throws made. Blake knocks down 19.4 points per game while averaging 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
•In the paint, the Ichabods are now lead by David Salach. The 6-7 senior forward is averaging 10.6 points per contest, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. 
• On the defensive end, the Ichabods are allowing their opponent only 69.7 points per contest, shooting 41 percent. They outrebound their opponent's 34.9 to their 39.7 per match-up.  

MULES STAT LEADERS

• The Mules have used a committee approach to scoring with six Mules scoring more than seven points per game. Jafar Kinsey leads UCM scoring 13.4 points per contest. Blake Spellman is next up, scoring 12.6 points per game with Matt Wilkinson being the third and final Mule averaging double figures with 10.3 per game.
• The Mules are shooting 46  percent from the floor and 36 percent from three. Blake Spellman has been on fire through eight games shooting 45.3 percent from behind the arc after draining four three-pointers against SBU. He is fourth the MIAA in three-point percentage. 
• Two Mules have already grabbed 40 or more rebounds this season with Brandon Emmert's 41 leading the way. Jafar Kinsey has 40 and Gaven Pinkley is right behind them at 34.
• Blake Spellman is still the leading field general dishing out 31 assists so far. His 3.9 assist-to-turnover ratio is now leading in the MIAA. 

UCM DURING THE KARLESKINT ERA
• Doug Karleskint has a record of 85-42 (.494) as he begins his fifth season as head coach at Central Missouri and a 174-76 (.437) 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 114th season of UCM basketball, the Mules have compiled a 1,700-966 (.568) record in 2,666 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 26 times in the history of the program, including this year and five of the last six 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.