PITTSBURG, Kan. (Jan. 12, 2019) - It was a tale of two halves in Pittsburg, Kan. as the Mules fell to Pittsburg State 78-69. UCM couldn't keep up their hot shooting from the opening frame as the Gorillas pulled away dropping UCM to 9-6, 2-4 MIAA.
How it Happened
• The Mules led for much of the first half and 26 minutes in the game. The contest featured 10 ties and five lead changes.
• Pitt State out shot the Mules going 24-59 from the field and 10-27 from three. The Mules were 22-57 and 7-28 from behind the arc.
• Central Missouri went just 1-14 from three in the second half as they saw their shooting percentage drop to 24.1% in the half.
• At the free throw line, UCM was 18-28, while the Gorillas were 20-23.
• Rest of the stats were pretty even. PSU led in rebounding 39-37. THe Mules committed 11 turnovers and the Gorillas 12.Â
• UCM came out red-hot in the first half scoring 41 points.
Michael Winger made a layup at the 17:40 mark and UCM never trailed for the rest of the first.
• The game was tied at 29-all late in the first half when UCM went on an 11-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 40-31.
Jafar Kinsey scored six points in the stretch.
• Pitt State started their comeback in the final minutes. With just three seconds left in the half, Donovan Franklin connected for a three and made it a two-point game, 41-39 at the half.
• Central Missouri kept the Gorillas down four in the opening minutes of half number two. A pair of Franklin free throws at 14:47 gave PSU their first lead since early in the first half, 47-46.
• UCM went back on top on their next possession and again held the lead for a bit. With 7:53 left to play the Mules were still up four, 60-56. The Gorillas responded with an 11-0 run to get on top 67-60 and forcing a UCM timeout.
• A
James Byrd layup cut the lead to two, 67-65 with 3:51 left, but the Gorilas finished the game scoring 11 of the final 15 points.
It Was Over When...
• The Mules did what they could to extend the game, but the Gorillas made their free throws at the end of the game. They went 8-8 at the line in the final 1:24.
Mules Stat Leaders
•
Jakob Lowrance led UCM with 19 points and seven rebounds.
•
Jafar Kinsey added 15 and six boards.
•
Daniel Farris scored 13 and was 6-9 at the free throw line.
•
James Byrd scored eight points off the bench.
For the Gorillas
• Donovan Franklin finished with a game-high 25 points and was 10-11 at the free throw line.
• Grant Lazoya picked up a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
• Demetrius Levarity added 13 points and A.J. Walker nine.
News and Notes
•
Jakob Lowrance scored career-point number 1,000 in this one. He becomes the 21st Mule to join the 1,000 point club.
• Lowrance is the second Mule in as many years to score his 1,000th point, joining former teammate
Spencer Reaves who accomplished the milestone last year.
• The 19 points for Lowrance is also a season-best.
• The 41 first half points are the most for the Mules in a half in MIAA games this season.
• Eight different Mules scored as UCM's bench outscored the Gorillas 14-6.
Up Next
• The Mules will be home for three straight starting Wednesday, Jan. 16 when they host Lincoln at the Multi with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.Â
