WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 16, 2019) - Central Missouri's lockdown defense sparked the offense as the Mules took down Lincoln in convincing fashion, 71-55 at the Multi. The win puts the Mules at 10-6 this season and 3-4 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• The Blue Tigers didn't have an answer for the Mules defense as they shot just 31% from the floor and 6-24 from three. The Mules matched the three-point production, also going 6-24, but still finished the night shooting 45% overall.
• The Mules outhustled the Blue Tigers and grabbed 44 rebounds to LU's 32. They also scored 13 second chance points and eight in transition.
• Central Missouri was excellent from the free throw line going 11-12 for 92%. 
• UCM was able to alter four Blue Tiger shots and came away with six steals. Both teams turned the ball over 15 times, but UCM scored 21 off turnovers while Lincoln just 11.
• UCM and LU came to play in the first half going shot for shot early on with three ties and two lead changes. 
• Terrence Smith scored five straight for Lincoln as they held their largest lead, 12-6 midway through the first. The Mules answered with eight straight and a Jafar Kinsey layup made it 14-12. The Mules didn't lose the lead the rest of the way.
• Daniel Farris led the Mules in the first half with nine points, two rebounds, and four assists. As a team, the Mules shot 46-percent from the field compared to the Blue Tigers 33-percent. 
• With a minute-thirty remaining in the half, the Mules held Lincoln scoreless and went on a 6-0 run to push the lead from three to nine going into the half up 34-25. 
• The Mules intensity continued coming out of the break They didn't let the Blue Tigers get any closer than seven for the rest of the game.
• Matt Wilkinson hit a jumper a little more than two minutes into the half and UCM had their first double-digit lead, 40-29. 
• The Blue Tigers got it back under 10, but then went into a big time cold stretch scoring just one point in a 7:25 span from 13:36 to 7:01. The Mules extended their lead during that stretch with a 13-1 run and led by more than 15 over the final 11:46 of the game.

It Was Over When...
• The Mules took their largest lead of the game with 7:01 remaining by 24 points, 63-39. James Byrd hit a three to cap a 13-1 scoring run in a 7:25 span.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Matt Wilkinson led UCM with 15 points and two rebounds. He was 6-8 from the floor and 3-4 from three. 
• Daniel Farris added 13 points, three rebounds, five rebounds, and one steal.
• Jakob Lowrance added another double-double with 13 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks. 
• James Byrd scored 13 points and grabbed three rebounds.
• Jafar Kinsey went for eight points and eight boards.  

For the Blue Tigers
• Terrance Smith finished with team-high 15 points and six rebounds.
• John Burton added 13-points and seven rebounds. 
• Amariontez Ivory added nine points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. 

News and Notes
• Jakob Lowrance's 17 rebounds are a new career single-game high. He also moved into 20th all-time at UCM in scoring, standing at 1,027. 
• This is the third time this season UCM has shot better than 90% at the free throw line and their first since game two. 
• The Mules 44 rebounds is the second most UCM has pulled down this season. 
• James Byrd went over 100 points this season and in his UCM career. 
• Tonight's win broke Lincoln's seven-game winning streak.
• Lincoln entered tonight averaging 79.7 points per game. The 55 is their fewest this season. Their previous season low was 69.
• This is just the second time Lincoln was held to fewer than 70 points. 

Up Next
• The Mules will be home once again this weekend to take on Lindenwood Saturday, Jan. 19 at 3:30 p.m.