Mules Defeat RiverHawks by Nine to Secure Fourth-Straight Win

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 3, 2018)-- Central Missouri Mules Basketball won their fourth-straight MIAA game as they took down the Northeastern State RiverHawks, 75-66, Saturday afternoon in the Multi. Clarence Smith had a career-high 17 points off the bench to lead UCM to its 18th win of the season.

How It Happened
• The Mules (18-4, 10-3 MIAA) shot the ball well for the second straight game finishing 27-52 from the floor for 51.9%. Defensively, they held the RiverHawks (7-15, 3-10 MIAA) to 41.7% (25-60).
• UCM found success scoring in the paint and scored 12 more points than NSU, 34-22. Both teams had eight turnovers on the afternoon, but UCM converted more points off them with 14 while limiting NSU to just eight.
• The first 10 minutes of action was a low scoring affair with the Mules only scoring eight. Midway through the first frame, the RiverHawks led 13-8, thanks in part to a 6-0 run.
• Things shifted in favor for the Mules in the rest of the half as they outscored NSU 27-14, including a 9-0 scoring run with 3:08 to play.
• DJ Richardson scored nine points in the first half to lead the Mules. Blake Spellman was right behind him with eight. As a team, seven of nine players who played in the first half scored for UCM.
• The Mules went into the break leading 35-27. The first half saw them make 13 shots on 26 attempts for 50%. Defensively, they locked in and held the RiverHawks to 37.9% on 11-29 shooting.
• The second half saw two UCM players score 10 or more points in Spencer Reaves and Smith. They scored 13 and 10, respectively.
• Coming out of the break, UCM wasted little time establishing a double figure lead. Back-to-back triples by Spellman and Smith help set up a 10-4 scoring advantage in the first four minutes of the second half. 
• UCM grabbed its largest lead of 14 points over NSU, 45-31, with 16:00 to play.
• A 14-4 run by the RiverHawks that spanned just over five minutes help them get within four of the Mules twice and with 10:40 to play they trailed 49-45.
• Reaves cushioned UCM's lead back to double figures as he scored six straight points which was part of a 10-0 run that lasted 3:32. With 7:05 to play, UCM led 59-45 and the never allowed NSU to get any closer than nine points the rest of the game.
• The Mules bested their first half shooting performance with 53.8% shooting (14-26) in the second half. They finished the game a perfect 13-13 at the free throw line and nailed eight triples on 24 attempts for 33.3%.

It Was Over When
• Both teams traded shots in the final five minutes. With 3:09 remaining in the game, Reaves and Smith hit back-to-back three's and Richardson followed it up with a dunk in transition. The three made buckets came in a span of 66 seconds and UCM held on for the nine-point home win.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Smith scored his 17 points on 6-9 shooting and was 3-6 from beyond the arc. He finished 2-2 at the charity strip.
• Reaves put up 15 points while going 5-10 from the field and pulled down four rebounds. He was 4-4 at the free throw line.
• Richardson also totaled 15 points. He shot 6-13 from the field, led the team in rebounds with eight, and had a game-high two steals.
• Spellman added 13 points for the Mules on 5-7 shooting. He was 3-5 from three-point range and grabbed three boards. 
• Jakob Lowrance chipped in nine points. He also grabbed three rebounds, blocked two shots, and matched the game-high in steals with two.

For the RiverHawks
• Jamir Andrews scored 22 points to lead all scorers. He finished 9-17 from the field and was 4-10 from beyond the arc. He also pulled in eight rebounds.
• Trent Cantrell added 11 points while notching two assists and two steals.
• Lucas Antunez chipped in eight points and grabbed five boards. He had a game-high five assists and added one steal.
• Josh Bougher and Gordon Hill each scored six points for NSU. 

News and Notes
• Clarence Smith's career-high 17 points surpass his previous mark of 13, which he scored in the Mules season opener against Minnesota-Duluth back on Nov. 10, 2017. With his performance, Smith now has 289 career points at UCM  and needs 11 to reach 300.
• DJ Richardson has now tallied at least one steal in 21 straight games. The only game he did not have a steal was the Mules season opener against Minnesota-Duluth. He has 73 career steals with UCM.
• Reaves continues to climb up the Mules all-time career scoring list. He now has 1,214 career points which is now tied for 12th most in Mules Basketball History. He needs one to take sole possession of 12th and is just 16 points away from entering the top-10. 
• The Mules improve to 5-2 all-time against NSU and is now 4-0 under Doug Karleskint. At home, UCM is now 3-0 against the RiverHawks. 
• UCM is 10-0 this season when scoring between 71-80 points. When holding opponents between 61-70  points, UCM is now 7-1 this year. 

Up Next
• The Mules end their three-game home stand this coming Wednesday, Feb. 7, against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. The Gorillas are 13-9 and 6-7 in the MIAA after falling to Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon at home. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Multi.