Mules Drop Defensive Struggle With No. 1 Bearcats

MARYVILLE, Mo. (Feb. 13, 2019) - Central Missouri gave No. 1 Northwest Missouri all they could handle, but the Bearcats were able to take a second-half lead and pull away in a 67-50 win Wednesday in Maryville. Central Missouri falls to 12-11 this season and 5-9 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• Points were at a premium as both teams shot below 40% for the game with UCM going 19-48 and NWMSU 22-56.
• The Bearcats were able to double-up the Mules in made three-pointers though, 10-5 and scored 13 at the free throw line to the Mules seven.
• The Bearcats also held an edge in rebounding, 36-32, with 10 offensive boards and a 12-0 advantage in second-chance points.
• Turnovers were another factor as UCM lost the ball 12 times, while the Bearcats turned it over just six.
• More than 10 minutes into the game and we were staring at a 10-9 game as both teams opened ice cold from the floor. After the Bearcats took a four-point lead, 13-9, the Mules made the first real run of the game.
• The Mules scored 11 of the next 15 points getting back-to-back threes from Jafar Kinsey and Matt Wilkinson, and six total from Wilkinson as they took a seven-point lead, 25-18.
• With just over two minutes left in the half, the Mules extended that to a game-high eight, 28-20 when Kinsey splashed another triple, giving him 13 first-half points.
• Northwest though close the half with a pair of threes and after 20 minutes, UCM had a two-point lead, 28-26.
• The Mules lead lasted just through the first possession of the second half as the Bearcats kept their momentum through the start of the half. NWMSU scored 12 straight to start the second and 18 straight from the end of the first half and led 38-28 with 16:05 left to play. 
• UCM tried to keep it close and a layup from Brandon Emmert and a three-point play from Daniel Farris cut the lead back to five, 40-35 at the 11:45 mark. 
• Ryan Welty hit a three pushing the lead back to 10 with 7:48 left and the Bearcats led by at least eight for the rest of the way.

It Was Over When...
• Kinsey hit his fourth three-pointer with 3:20 left bring UCM back to within 10, 58-48. But while Northwest went three straight possessions without scoring, the Mules couldn't dig into the lead any deeper and went more than two minutes without scoring as time ran out on their upset bid.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Jafar Kinsey led the team scoring 17 points going 4-7 from three and pulling down seven rebounds.
• Jakob Lowrance also was in double-figures with 10 points and a taem-high eight boards.
• Daniel Farris had a nice night with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.
• Matt Wilkinson scored six points while Brandon Emmert added five.

For the Bearcats
• Joey Wittus scored a game-high 19 points going 7-12 from the floor with five rebounds.
• Ryan Welty added 15 with five three-pointers and six rebounds.
• Diego Bernard and Trevor Hudgins each scored 11 and passed out four assists.
• Ryan Hawkins scored nine with a game-high 12 rebounds.

News and Notes
• This is the fewest points the Bearcats have scored in a game this season, as well as their fewest made field goals.
• It was just the second time this season Northwest Missouri trailed at the half and the first since their season opener.
• Daniel Farris went over 300 career points.

Up Next
• Central Missouri remains on the road for a matchup with Missouri Western Saturday, Feb. 16 with a 4 p.m. start.