JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Jan. 11, 2020) - Central Missouri Mules Basketball concluded a three-game road stretch with a close 84-88 overtime loss to Lincoln on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Gaven Pinkley scored a career-high of 23 points to lead the Mules offense against the Blue Tigers. 

How It Happened: 
• It was a slow offensive start for both teams as the Mules and Blue Tigers were tied 4-4 after almost a full four minutes of play.
• Lincoln gained their first lead of the game with a quick 7-0 run which gave the Blue Tigers a 11-4 advantage at the 14:09 mark in the first half.
• Central Missouri outscored Lincoln in the final five minutes of the first half to come within five points at the half, down 32-37. 
• With 13:38 to go the second half, a three by Pinkley gave the Mules their first lead of the game at 44-43.
• The Mules and Blue Tigers went back and forth for the remaining 13 minutes of the second half, trading field goal for field goal. 
• With under a minute to play, Michael Winger and Pinkley showed up big for the Mules, answering each Blue Tiger lead with a three. 
• Central Missouri and Lincoln ended regulation play tied 74-74 to send the game into overtime. 
• The Mules and Blue Tigers went point-for-point in overtime. Lincoln's ability to gain second chances off offensive rebounds hindered UCM's time of offensive possession. 
• Lincoln scored the final points of the game to defeat the Mules 88-84.
• Central Missouri recorded one of their top-five shooting performances of the season against the Blue Tigers. The Mules hit 28-54 from the field for 51.9%, 14-33 from the three-point range for 42.4% and 14-17 from the foul line for 82.4%.
• Lincoln went 30-66 for 45.5% from inside the arc, 10-33 from outside the arc for 30.3% and finished 18-28 from the free throw line for 64.3%.
• The Blue Tigers dominated UCM on the boards. Lincoln out-rebounded the Mules 39-28 with 17 of the Blue Tigers rebounds being offensive boards. The Mules finished with just four offensive rebounds. 
• Turnovers also hurt the Mules offensive chances. Lincoln scored 17 of their 88 points off UCM's 16 turnovers. 

It Was Over When...
• With 1:12 left to play in overtime, the Mules and Blue Tigers were tied 84-84. A Lincoln layup by Cameron Potts with 40 second left on the clock gave the Blue Tigers a two point advantage. 
• Twenty seconds ran off the clock as a missed UCM three was followed by two missed Lincoln free throws.
• The Mules were forced to foul in the final 10 seconds, sending Jonell Burton to the line. Burton made each attempt with no time left for the Mules to overcome the four-point deficit. 

Leading the Mules: 
• Pinkley made a season-high of 10 field goals on 13 attempts while also hitting a season-high of three three's to record a new career-high of 23 points. 
• Kendale Hampton went 5-9 from inside the arc and knocked down four three's to finish with 21 points. 
• Michael Winger also hit four three's to end the game with 12 points. 
• Matt Wilkinson lead the UCM defense with six rebounds. 
• Daniel Farris lead with five assists and three steals. 

For the Blue Tigers:
• Lamont Ballard Lincoln with 18 points. 
• L'Kielynn Taylor lead the Blue Tigers defense with seven assists and nine rebounds, five of which were offensive boards. 

News & Notes:
• This was the Mules first overtime game of the season. 
• Pinkley has scored in double-figures in the last nine consecutive games. 
• Farris played a season-high of 32 minutes against the Blue Tigers. 
• The Mules continue to lead the all-time series against Lincoln 60-36.
• Central Missouri is 0-4 on the road so far this season. 

Up Next: 
Mules Basketball (6-8, 1-4 MIAA) returns to the Multipurpose Building next week for the first time in the new year. Central Missouri is set to host Pittsburg State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.