TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Jan. 31, 2019) - Central Missouri trailed by as much as 16 but found themselves down only four late in the game Thursday night against Northeastern State. The Mules comeback attempt though was thwarted by the RiverHawks who held off UCM for an 84-72 win, dropping UCM to 10-9 and 3-7 in the MIAA.
How it Happened
• The RiverHawks were red hot out of the gates, especially from three. After 20 minute of play, NSU held a 43-27 lead. They were 16-30 from the floor and 7-15 from three.
• The Mules scored 45 in the second half and twice cut the lead down to four, but the RiverHawks knocked in a plethora of free throws down the stretch, 15-17 in the second half to hang on.
• For the game, the Mules ended up outshooting NSU from deep as they finished 12-31 for 39%, helped out by going 10-22 in the second half. NSU held a 52%-47% in total field goal percentage.
• Both teams finished with 30 rebounds and UC held a slight-edge in the paint, 24-22. UCM also picked up 13 second-chance points.
• Midway through the half is when the RiverHawks started to distance themselves. Trailing by one, 16-15, NSU went on a 12-2 run, getting three triples during the stretch.
• Another RiverHawk three at the 7:25 mark gave them a double-digit lead which they maintained for the rest of the half. Trent Cantrell hit a three with eight seconds left to send the game into the half with NSU leading 43-27.
• Start of the second half the Mules punched back by scoring the first six points.
Jakob Lowrance with an old fashioned three-point play and
Michael Winger hit from behind the arc and it was 43-33. After a RiverHawk bucket,
Matt Wilkinson brought the lead down to nine with a three of his own.
• With less than 10 minutes to play, Northeastern State still had a big advantage, 56-43. Central Missouri though went on an 11-2 run, finishing with
Daniel Farris knocking in a layup and the foul shot and it was a four-point game, 58-54 with just under seven minutes left to play.
• The RiverHawks countered everything the Mules offered though and less than two minutes later, the lead was back to 10, 64-54.
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Jakob Lowrance however buried a pair of threes again shaving the lead to four, 64-60 with less than four minutes to play.
• UCM though was not able to pull any closer than four and with 1:25 left, Northeastern had rebuilt their lead to double-digits and sank their free throws at the end to hang on for an 84-72 win.
It Was Over When...
• The Mules trailed by six, 69-63 with just under three minutes left to play. The RiverHawks though were able to hit a basket, force a turnover and nail a three to bring the lead back up to 11 with 2:02 left to play.
Mules Stat Leaders
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Jakob Lowrance led UCM in scoring with 22 points. He completed the double-double by securing a game high 10 rebounds.
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Jafar Kinsey also was in double figures with 12 points and was 5-8 from the field.
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Michael Winger connected three time from three and scored nine points. As did
Daniel Farris who dished out six assists.
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Brandon Emmert and
James Byrd each scored six points off the bench.
For the RiverHawks
• Trent Cantrell scored a game-high 25 points and was 6-12 from three.
• Bradley George added 21 points and a team-best eight boards.
• Tanner Mouse scored 16 and Caleb Smith 15.
News and Notes
• Lowrance's 22 points were a season-best and his first time topping 20 points this season. It is the 10th 20-point game of his career.
•
Blake Spellman returned to the floor after missing the previous seven games and scored five points with four rebounds.
• The Mules 45 second-half points are their second most in a game this season.
• Central Missouri has made 12 three-pointers in back-to-back games.
Up Next
• The Mules won't have to travel far. They'll head to Edmond, Okla. to take on Central Oklahoma Saturday, Feb. 2 at 3:30 p.m.
