Second Half Comeback Fuels Mules Win

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 3, 2019) - It took roughly 30 minutes, but the Mules kicked it into gear late to erase a seven-point second-half decifit and pick up their first MIAA win of the season, 63-54 over Fort Hays State.

How it Happened
• It was a slow start for both teams and a poor shooting night for much of it. The Mules finished at 45.1%, helped out by going 14-26 in the second half while the Tigers shot just 36.5% for the game. 
• Central Missouri's bench did a lot of damage scoring 29 points.
• The Mules were opportunistic, creating 13 turnovers and turning that into 11 points, including eight fast break points. Central Missouri lost the ball just eight times and didn't allow a single point off turnovers.
• While UCM won the rebounding edge 36-35, the Tigers outscored the Mules 8-2 on second chance points.
• A slow moving first half saw the Mules take a 23-21 lead into the break. The opening round saw nine lead changes and two ties, while the teams were a combined 16-49 from the field and 4-24 from three.
• With the Tigers leading by six, 18-12, Jakob Lowrance scored five straight to cut the lead down to one. A three from Matt Wilkinson tied the game at 20, and James Byrd gave UCM the lead with a steal and a layup with just under two minutes remaining in the half. The Mules kept that two point lead, 23-21, at the break.
• The second half started out like the first with a couple of ties and lead changes. Nearly halfway through, Fort Hays State staked their largest lead, 40-33, after a made layup from Marcus Cooper.
• That's when UCM turned it on, nearly matching their output from the first 30 minutes in the final 10. The Mules chipped away with layups from Daniel Farris, James Byrd and Matt Wilkinson and Jafar Kinsey tied the game at 43-all.
• One possession later, Byrd gave UCM the lead for good with a three and Daniel Farris capped a 13-1 run with another layup, putting UCM on top 48-43.
• The Mules outscored the Tigers 28-12 in the final 10 minutes and put FHSU away 63-54.

It Was Over When...
• James Byrd was on fire in the final 10 minutes of the game and hit the dagger on a turnaround jumper as the shot-clock was winding down to put UCM up nine, 57-48 with just 1:40 left to play.  

Mules Stat Leaders
• James Byrd and Jakob Lowrance led UCM with a game-high tying 14 points. They also each grabbed four rebounds and Byrd dished out four assists.
• Matt Wilkinson added 12 points and team-high tying six rebounds.
• Daniel Farris scored nine with four rebounds and four assists.
• Jafar Kinsey also scored nine, all in the second half, with four boards and two blocked shots.

For the Tigers
• Brady Werth scored a game-high tying 14 points and fell a rebound shy of a double-double. He also tallied three blocked shots.
• Marcus Cooper was in double-figures with 10 points and five boards.
• Jared Vitztum scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds.

News and Notes
• The Mules overcame a deficit of at least six points for the sixth time this season.
• Jakob Lowrance played for the first time since Nov. 17 after missing seven straight games.
• In the final 10 minutes, the Mules went 11-15 from the field and 3-3 from three. Byrd was 4-4 with a pair of triples. 
• After scoring 35 points in the first 30 minutes, UCM put up 28 over the final 10. 
• Central Missouri moves to 7-0 at home this season.
• The 63 points is the fewest the Mules have scored in a win since defeating Washburn 63-57 in January of 2018. The last time UCM scored fewer than 63 points in a win was in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament in 2017, a 59-53 win over Central Oklahoma. 

Up Next
• The Mules look to make it a 4-0 homestand as they take on Nebraska-Kearney Saturday, Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m.