TIP-OFF
• Central Missouri Mules Basketball advances to the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals and will take on the fourth-seeded Central Oklahoma Bronchos in Kansas City. The Mules and Bronchos have the final quarterfinals game of the conference tournament and will tip-off at 8:15 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.
• UCM snapped its five-game losing streak with a MIAA Tournament opening round win over No. 12-seeded Missouri Western. The Mules defeated the Griffons, 75-59, to stay alive in the postseason.
• Central Oklahoma enters the MIAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed at 19-9 overall, with a 12-7 mark against MIAA opponents in the regular season, and are winners of their last two games.
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 games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/miaa/. It is a pay-per-view webcast.
PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
• This is the 113th season of Central Missouri Mules basketball.
• Central Missouri is third all-time in NCAA Division II men's basketball with 1,695 wins.
• The Mules have won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships overall (1937 & 1938 NAIB).
MULE FEED
•
Spencer Reaves is averaging 16.6 points per game this season, best on the team and ninth in the MIAA. He has posted 10-plus points in 12 straight games and 25 overall games this season.
•
Jakob Lowrance leads the team in double-doubles with five this season. He posted his fifth in the Mules home win over Northeastern State with 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
• Eight different players have scored in double figures for UCM this season. Reaves leads the way having scored 10-plus points in 25 games this season.
DJ Richardson is second at 23 games with 10-plus points.
• The Mules are fourth in the MIAA in field goal percentage at 48.4%, seventh in three-point shooting at 36.8% and first in free throw percentage at 77.7%.
• Defensively, UCM is second in the league in scoring (66.1 ppg). The Mules are sixth in field goal percentage defense at 44.3% and sixth in three-point field goal percentage defense at 35.3%.
ALL-MIAA MULES
• Central Missouri had three players earn All-MIAA honors led by
Spencer Reaves on the first team.
Jakob Lowrance was a third team honoree and
DJ Richardson earned honorable mention honors in addition to being named to the league's All-Defensive Team.
• This is the third All-MIAA honor for Reaves and the first for both Lawrence and Richardson.
SERIES HISTORY VS. CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
• The Mules and Bronchos will meet for just the 17th time, with the series being tied 8-8. Prior to the 2010-11 season, the two teams only met four times, with the Mules winning three of the four. Since the turn of the decade, Central Oklahoma has a 7-5 edge over UCM.
• UCM and UCO met earlier this season in Warrensburg with UCM winning 74-64. The two teams meet again in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals for the second straight season. UCM won that match as well last year, 59-54.
LAST MEETING WITH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 1, 2018)-- All five starters scored in double figures for Mules Basketball as they took down the Central Oklahoma Bronchos, 74-64, Thursday night the Multipurpose Building. Central Missouri, winners of three-straight, improves to 17-4 overall and is now 9-3 in MIAA play.
• The Mules shot an even 50% from the floor (23-46), while going 8-22 from three-point range for 36.4%. Free throws once again help the Mules late in the game and they finished 20-25 from the line for 80.0% on the night.
• The Bronchos (14-7, 7-5 MIAA) were held to 64 points on 25-57 made baskets (43.9%), and finished 7-21 from beyond the arc for 33.3%. They took 14 less free throws than UCM and connected on seven for 63.6%.
• Defense played a role early in the game as the two teams combined for just nine points in the first five minutes of action. Trailing 4-2 with 17:17 to play in the half, the Mules outscored the Bronchos 12-4 to grab a 14-8 lead at the midway point.
• UCM grabbed its first double-digit lead, 25-15, with 7:17 to play in the first half thanks to a deep three pointer by
Jakob Lowrance. UCM put up 10 more points before halftime and held UCO to eight in the final 7:17 to take a 35-23 lead into the break.
• Both teams had nine turnovers, but the difference maker was the Mules shooting and defense. They went 11-20 from the floor and 6-13 from deep for 55% and 50% respectively. They held the Bronchos to 38.5% shooting (10-26).
• UCM maintained its double figure lead for the majority of the night and had its largest at 16, 48-32, with 15:48 to play in the game.
• The Bronchos kept the game interesting with a 7-0 run to cut their deficit to eight, 59-51, with 7:39 to play. Despite their efforts they never managed to get any closer than six points in the final five minutes.
• Points in the paint and late free throws came up big for the Mules in the second half. In the paint, the Mules outscored the Bronchos 20-14, and in the final 5:00 they went 5-6 from the line to seal the game.
• UCO won the rebounding battle, 33-28, and both teams combined for 30 points in the paint.
• Wilkinson led the way scoring 17 points on 6-11 of shooting and was 2-5 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
• Marqueese Grayson scored game-high 19 points and finished 7-13 from the field. He pulled down five rebounds and had two assists, but turned the ball over four times.
SCOUTING CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
• The Bronchos are 19-9 overall entering contest and went 12-7 in MIAA play to finish fourth in the regular season standings. They defeated Washburn, 73-65, and Emporia state, 76-73, to earn the No. 4 seed in the MIAA Tournament.
• Central Oklahoma is ninth in the MIAA in scoring (74.3 ppg), and fourth in scoring defense (68.3 ppg). The Bronchos shoot 45.9% from the floor, which is 10th in the league. Their field percentage defense of 42.4% is second best in the MIAA and they are fourth in rebounds averaging 36.0 per game.
• Corbin Byford and Marquesse Grayson lead the way in scoring for UCO as both are averaging 12.2 points per game. Byford is team's top shooter at 56.8%, while Grayson is the deep threat at 41.8% from three-point range.
• Marquis Johnson is third on the team in scoring at just under 10 points a game with 9.3. He leads the team in assists with 2.9 per game and his assist-turnover ratio of 2.6 is third best in the MIAA.
• Byford also leads the team and is tied for 10th in the MIAA in rebounds at 6.6 per game. His 1.4 block per game is the second on the team and tied for fifth in the league.
• Jake Hammond and Jordan Hemphill will look to help out on the offensive end as they are averaging 8.4 and 8.0 points per game, respectively. Hammond also leads the team and is second in the MIAA in blocks with 1.9 per game. He is also second on the team in rebounding with 5.9 per game
LAST TIME OUT • CENTRAL MISSOURI 75, MISSOURI WESTERN 59 • 2/27/18
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 27, 2018) - Central Missouri Mules basketball punched their ticket to the second round of the MIAA Tournament Tuesday night with a 75-59 home win over the Missouri Western Griffons at the UCM Multipurpose Building. The Mules led wire-to-wire as they picked up their 20th win of the season to advance to the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
• The Mules (20-9, 11-8 MIAA) shot over 50% in both halves to finish the night at 55.8% on 29-52 shooting, including 7-16 from three-point range for 43.8%.
• Defensively, UCM held Missouri Western (6-21, 4-15 MIAA) to 45.1% shooting (23-51) overall and 27.3% from beyond the arc (6-22).
•
Jakob Lowrance was a force for the Mules offensively scoring 17 first half points on 8-9 shooting. The Griffons had 22 points as a team in the first half.
• It was a slow start for both teams in the first 10 minutes as UCM led by a score of 10-8 at the midway point.
• With 7:25 to play in the half, Lowrance started to take over the Mules as he scored 13 straight points. The Mules closed the final 5:00 of the half with 12-2 scoring run over the Griffons to lead 35-22 at the break.
• UCM shot 60% in the first half going 15-25 from the floor, while holding Missouri Western to just eight made shots on 23 attempts for 34.8%.
• The Griffons started the second half with a 11-2 scoring run, including seven straight to get within four, 37-33, with 16:16 to play.
• An 8-0 run by the Mules, six of which that came from
Matt Wilkinson pushed the Mules lead to back to double figures, 51-37, with 11:37 on the clock.
• UCM held a double-digit lead for just over seven minutes until Missouri Western put together a 9-0 scoring run to cut the lead to eight, 59-51, with 6:21 to play in regulation.
• After a quick timeout by the Mules,
Spencer Reaves nailed a triple to put the lead back into double-digits and it sparked a 9-0 scoring run that gave the Mules a 17-point lead, 68-51.
• UCM never let Missouri Western get within 10 in the final five minutes and led by as much as 18 in that span.
• A big help in the Mules in their 16-point home win was second chance points. They had 11, while Griffons had zero. They also outscored the Griffons in the paint 38-30.
• Lowrance finished the night with a game-high 24 points on 11-13 shooting. He was 2-3 from three-point range and also had a game-high seven boards.
• Reaves added 18 points on a 6-11 shooting performance. He pulled down three rebounds, had two assists and was a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.
• Wilkinson chipped in 11 points on 50% shooting (4-8), while grabbing three rebounds.
•
Clarence Smith put up six points, while
Blake Spellman and
Brandon Emmert each scored five points. Spellman also had a game-high five assists.
• Lavon Hightower scored 23 points, going 9-20 from the floor. He led the team in rebounds with six and had a blocked shot.
MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules finished 11-8 in league play to place fifth in the regular season standings.
• UCM finished fifth in the MIAA behind Northwest Missouri, Missouri Southern, Washburn and Central Oklahoma
• The Mules are 46-33 in conference play under
Doug Karleskint.
MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 9-1 in non-conference action after beating Missouri Western. They are 147-36 over the last 16 seasons.
• Central Missouri is now 72-2 in the last 74 non-conference home games at the Multipurpose Building after the win over Missouri Western.
MULES AT HOME
• UCM is 11-4 at home after beating Missouri Western. They are 45-15 at home under
Doug Karleskint.
• UCM is 182-26 at home over the last 13 seasons, including 72-2 against non-conference opponents and 110-24 in MIAA play.
• The Mules are 510-103 (.832) in their 42nd season playing home games at the Multipurpose Building.
MULES ON THE ROAD
• UCM was 4-5 on the road in the regular season with all four wins coming against MIAA opponents.
• UCM is 21-22 in road games under
Doug Karleskint.
MULES IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES
• The Mules went 5-0 in the regular season and are 14-3 overall in neutral site games under
Doug Karleskint.
• The Mules were 4-1 in neutral site games in 2016-17 and the other seven of those games were played in the 2014-15 season.
MULES IN THE MIAA POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT
• The Mules are 36-31 all-time in the MIAA Tournament and 16-1 in games played at home after beating Missouri Western.
• The Mules have captured six MIAA Tournament championships in school history, more than any other league school. UCM has been in the championship game 15 times in the history of the tournament.
• The Mules have made the championship game six of the 16 years the tournament has been held in Kansas City.
• UCM has won tournament championships in 1981-82, 1983-84, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2008-09 and 2012-13.
• The Mules have played in every MIAA Tournament since its inception, the only school to do so.
• Overall, here is how the Mules have fared against conference opponents in the MIAA Tournament:
Team First Round Quarters Semis Finals In KC Overall
Central Oklahoma 0-1 2-0 1-0 - 3-0 3-1
Emporia State - 2-0 1-0 - 1-0 3-0
Fort Hays State - 1-0 - - 1-0 1-0
Lincoln - - 0-1 - - 0-1
Lindenwood - - - - - -
Missouri Southern - 4-0 0-1 1-0 3-1 5-1
Missouri Western 1-0 1-3 1-1 1-1 2-0 4-5
Nebraska-Kearney - - 1-0 - 1-0 1-0
Northeastern State - 0-1 - - 0-1 0-1
Northwest Missouri - 0-2 3-0 2-2 1-1 5-4
Pittsburg State - 2-3 1-0 1-0 2-2 4-3
Southwest Baptist - 0-1 1-0 0-2 1-1 1-3
Washburn - 0-4 1-1 - 1-3 1-5
-- vs former MIAA members --
Missouri-Rolla - - - 0-1 - 0-1
Missouri-St. Louis - 1-0 1-0 - - 2-0
Nebraska Omaha - 0-1 - - 0-1 0-1
Southeast Missouri - 1-0 2-1 1-3 - 4-4
Truman State - - 2-1 - 1-0 2-1
Totals 1-1 14-15 15-6 6-9 17-10 36-31
A WIN OVER CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WOULD...
• Send UCM to the MIAA Tournament Semifinals for the second straight season 22nd time in program history.
• Put UCM at 37-31 all-time in the MIAA Tournament overall and 2-0 in the tournament this seaosn.
• Improve the Mules record to 21-9 overall, be their second straight win over the Bronchos, and give them a 9-8 overall series lead.
A LOSS TO CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WOULD...
• Knock the Mules out of the semifinals of MIAA Tournament for just the seventh time overall.
• End UCM's season at 20-9 and put their overall record in the MIAA Tournament at 36-32.
• Give the Bronchos a 9-8 overall series lead against the Mules.
KEY TO A VICTORY? BALANCED ATTACK & DEFENSE
• In their 20 wins this season, the Mules have three players averaging in double figures and three more averaging at least 6.0 points per game. In their nine losses, three players still average in double figures, but just one player averages at least 5.0 ppg.
• The Mules are 17-2 when holding teams to 70 points or less. They are 17-3 when opponents shoot less than 50% for the game as well.
20 MINUTE GAME?
• The Mules are 17-1 this season when leading at halftime. They are 3-8 when tied or trailing after the first 20 minutes of action.
• The same argument could be made for closing games out. UCM is 18-1 when leading with 5:00 left in regulation and just 2-8 when tied or trailing with five minutes to play.
1,000 POINT CLUB
•
Spencer Reaves scored 512 points last season and in his first two seasons with the Mules he scored 869 career points.
• He has 481 points this season and 1,350 for his career. He is the 20th player in Mules Basketball History to eclipse 1,000 career points.
• Reaves 1,350 points ranks seventh on the UCM career scoring list. He needs to score 50 more points to reach 1,400 for his career.
MIAA STAT LEADERS
• UCM is second is the MIAA is scoring defense (66.1 ppg) and 19th in Division II. They lead the MIAA in free throw percentage at 77.7%.
• Reaves is ninth in the MIAA in scoring with 16.6 ppg.
Jakob Lowrance is 15th in the league at 14.5 ppg.
• Lowrance is second in the MIAA in field goal percentage at 58.8%. Reaves is sixth at 51.5%.
• Reaves is second in the MIAA in free throw percentage at 89.8% (115-128).
DJ Richardson is 12th at 80.3% (98-122).
• Lowrance is tied for eighth in the MIAA in rebounding at 6.8 per game and seventh in blocks with 1.1 per game. Reaves is 19th in rebounding average with 5.1 per game.
•
Blake Spellman is 11th in the MIAA in assists per game with 3.2. He is fourth in assist-turnover ratio at 2.4.
• Richardson is tied for second in the league in steals with 1.7 per game. Reaves is tied for 11th at 1.1 per game.
UCM DURING THE KARLESKINT ERA
•
Doug Karleskint has a record of 80-40 (.667) in his fourth season as head coach at Central Missouri and a 169-74 (.695) 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 113th season of UCM basketball, the Mules have compiled a 1,695-964 (.637) record in 2,659 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.
THE NEXT LEVEL
• In the past 16 years, 23 former UCM players have gone on to play professional basketball.
• Four players are either currently playing professionally or on a professional roster; Donte Adams (Conejos De Tuxtla (Mexico), Charles Hammork (Kosovo, Ylli Therande), Michael Hicks (Poland, Polpharma-Pakmet), and Zack Wright (Germany, Brose Basket).
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Central Missouri has won a combined 211 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured three MIAA regular season titles, one MIAA Tournament crown and two NCAA Regional Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 157 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won eight national championships during Hughes' tenure (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003, men's basketball in 2014, and women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015) and 10 national championships overall.
• In 2016-17, Central Missouri won the inaugural MIAA's Commissioner's Cup trophy for the conference's top overall athletic department.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 252 student-athletes named to the 2016-17 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 22 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned all-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 20 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had five student-athletes earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in their respective sports.
• All-time UCM is fourth in NCAA-II with 103 Academic All-Americans.
•
Carly Thomas of Jennies Bowling was awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last year.
UPCOMING
• If the Mules win, they will advance to the MIAA Tournament Semifinals and take on the winner of top-seeded Northwest Missouri and No. 8-seeded Pittsburg State. Tip-off for that game will be on Saturday, March 3 at 8:15 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.
