WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 5, 2019) - It took an extra five minutes for the Mules to put away Nebraska-Kearney but after 45 minutes, the Mules had a 62-58 win over the Lopers. The win is the Mules fourth straight and moves them to 9-4 this season and an even 2-2 in the MIAA.

How It Happened
• Central Missouri shot 31.8% from the field, and outscored the Lopers by seven 16-9 at the free throw line. UNK also shot less than 40% at 36.7% for the game.
• Neither team was efficient from three as the Mules were just 4-22 and the Lopers 5-22.
• Central Missouri won the rebounding edge 49-44 and doubled up the Lopers on the offensive glass 12-6. That led to an 8-1 Mule advantage in second-chance points. 
• Once again the Mules were outstanding holding onto the ball, turning it over just five times while forcing 10 from the Lopers.
• Central Missouri led for much of the first half, taking their first lead after back-to-back buckets from Jakob Lowrance and Jafar Kinsey made it 4-3.
• The Mules pushed that lead to seven, 12-5, on a Matt Wilkinson free throw at 14:45, which was the largest lead for either team at any point in the game.
• A 5-0 run late the half gave the visitors a two-point lead, 24-22, but the Mules closed the half on an 8-5 run, helped out by consecutive triples from James Byrd and Kinsey, and UCM led by one, 30-29 at the break.
• A low-scoring second half saw just 15 combined field goals. The Mules were 6-24 for the half, but were helped out at the free throw line. UCM was 9-14 at the charity stripe while the Lopers went just 3-9.
• With 12:31 to go in regulation, the Mules still led by five after a layup from Byrd. The Lopers though scored nine straight and a 12-2 run gave them their largest lead of the game, 47-42, with 8:05 left to play. 
• The Mules chipped away and relied on their defense which continually came up big. The Lopers scored just five points in the final eight minutes. 
• With less than one minutes remaining, Nebraska-Kearney still was up by three. Jakob Lowrance drew a foul and and made it a one-point game by sinking both at the line.
• Fighting for a defensive rebound, Brandon Emmert's foul sent Henry Penner to the free throw line with a chance to reclaim a three-point lead with 16 seconds left. Penner hit the first, but missed the second with the rebound going to Lowrance.
• The Mules went for the tie and Jafar Kinsey knocked in a layup with five seconds left to send the game to overtime.
• In the overtime period, Nebraska-Kearney scored first, but the Mules used a 6-0 run to go up four, and went 4-6 at the free throw line in the final 25 seconds to come way with a four-point win.

It Was Over When...
• Nebraska-Kearney got back to within two with seven seconds left in overtime. On the inbounds, Michael Winger was fouled away from the ball and calmly hit both free throws as the Mules went back up by four and won by the 62-58 final.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Jafar Kinsey scored a game-high 21 points and was 3-7 from three. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
• Jakob Lowrance secured a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. He was a perfect 8-8 at the free throw line. 
• James Byrd chipped in seven points and a career-best nine rebounds, four coming on the offensive end.
• Daniel Farris scored four with a game-best five assists.
• Matt Wilkinson chipped in with eight points and six rebounds.

For the Lopers
• Kanon Koster scored 16 points and recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds.
• Kyle Juhl scored 11 with nine rebounds. He was 3-6 from beyond the arc.
• AJ Jackson scored nine points and Weston Baker Magrath eight.

News and Notes
• This was the Mules second overtime game of the season. They are now 1-1 in 2018-19 and 6-5 under coach Karleskint.
• Jakob Lowrance got the start for the first time since November 17 against Illinois-Springfield. His 13 rebounds are a season-high for the Mules.
• The Mules have held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 60 points. They're allowing just 63.5 games in conference games, the fewest among teams with four MIAA games played.
• The Mules five turnovers match a season-low. They have six games this season with less than 10 turnovers.
• Central Missouri is 8-0 at home this season. It matches their best start under Coach Karleskint, also done in 2014-15. The last time the Mules started a season with more than eight straight home wins was 2013-14 when they went 13-0 for the season.
• The Mules have won four straight, matching their season-high winning streak and were 4-0 on this homestand.

Up Next
• Central Missouri will be on the road next Thursday, Jan. 10 to take on Missouri Southern. Game time is 7:30 p.m.