WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 19, 2019) - Central Missouri Mules Basketball came out red hot in the first half, but let a seven-point halftime lead slip away in a 62-57 loss to Lindenwood. The loss puts the Mules at 10-7 this season and 3-5 in the MIAA.
How It Happened
• For the game the Mules shot 43.5% from the floor and were 7-14 from three. Lindenwood connected on 45.7% of their FGA and were 6-16 from deep.
• Both teams hit their free throws with the Mules going 10-12 and the Lions 14-18. All 18 of the Lions attempts came in the second half.
• The Mules uncharacteristically turned the ball over 15 times, same as the Lions. Lindenwood scored 17 points off UCM turnover and the Mules 16 from the Lions turnovers.
• Lindenwood won the rebounding edge 29-26.
• The Mules were hot from the start shooting 57% (12-21) in the opening half. After the Lions took an early 7-2 lead, UCM responded with a 7-2 run of their own to tie the game at nine-all.
• Leading by five with under five minutes remaining, a loose ball found
Michael Winger in the corner who buried a three to put the Mules up 27-19, their largest lead to that point.
• On their final possession,
Matt Wilkinson hit is second three of the half as the Mules led by nine, 35-26. The Lions got two of those points back with a jumper in the final seconds and after 20 minutes, the Mules led by touchdown, 35-28.
• Things went south for UCM coming out of the break. The Mules didn't hit their first field goal of the half until the 12:58 mark on a layup from
James Byrd. UCM's defense was doing their part as eight and a half minutes into the half, the Lions were only outscoring the Mules 5-4.
• The Lions tied and took the lead using a 9-0 run when Drew Moore hit a three with 9:23 left to play.
Michael Winger answered with his third three-pointer putting UCM back on top, 44-42.
• There was a 2:37 scoreless streak before
Brandon Emmert put UCM up four, 46-42, with a layup. After the Lions tied the game for the sixth time,
Jafar Kinsey splashed a three with 4:40 to play and the Mules led 49-46.
• A 7-0 spurt from the Lions put them up four, 53-49.
Daniel Farris got UCM back within one getting a layup and a foul with 2:04 left to play, but that's as close as they got.
• In the games final seconds, Wilkinson made it a three-point game with a three and the Mules got a turnover with less than 30 seconds left. They couldn't get a shot off though and turned the ball back over to the Lions who hit a pair of free throws to make it a two-possession game and put the game away.
It Was Over When...
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Jafar Kinsey came away with a steal with 24 seconds left in the game and the Mules down three. It looked like they'd have a chance to tie or cut the lead to one, but UCM turned the ball over themselves and were forced to foul with 11 seconds left. The Lions hit both free throws to go up five and won by the 62-57 final.
Mules Stat Leaders
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Daniel Farris scored 14 points and was 5-9 from the floor.
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Michael Winger didn't miss all afternoon going 3-3 from three and 2-2 at the free throw line for 11 points.
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Matt Wilkinson also hit three triples and scored nine.
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Jafar Kinsey and
Jakob Lowrance each grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Kinsey also scored seven points.
For the Lions
• Brad Newman scored a game-high 27 points.
• Chandler Diekvoss was also in double-figures with 12 and 11 rebounds.
• Adam Pohlman dished out seven assists.
News and Notes
• The loss is the Mules first at home this season after starting 9-0. That is the best start at home under Coach Karleskint and the best since UCM went 13-0 in 2013-14.
• This is the second time this season the Mules shot 50% from three. They also accomplished that by going 17-30 against Avila.
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Brandon Emmert surpassed 200 career points.
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Michael Winger's 11 points put him over 100 in his career.
• The Mules honored senior
Jakob Lowrance with a commemorative ball for becoming the 21st Mule to join the 1,000 point club prior to the game.
Up Next
• Central Missouri will have a week off before playing against next Saturday, Jan. 26 against Southwest Baptist at the Multipurpose Building. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
