WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 14, 2020) - After a three games on the road, Central Missouri Mules Basketball returns home this week to host a pair of MIAA match-ups.
Opponents
Pittsburg State Gorillas (6-9, 2-4 MIAA)
No. 10 Missouri Southern Lions (13-2, 6-0 MIAA)
Where
UCM Multipurpose Building - Warrensburg, Mo.
When
Wednesday, Jan. 15 - 7:30 p.m. vs. Pittsburg State
Saturday, Jan. 18 - 3 p.m. vs. Missouri Southern
How to Watch:
• Both game will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action.
•The game will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/. It is a pay-per-view webcast.
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com.
Promotions:
• Wednesday - Courtside Cafe will be open starting at halftime of the Jennies game until the start of the Mules game
• Saturday - UCM SAAC will be taking donations for the Make a Wish Foundations at both entrances to the arena.
Tip Off:
• The Mules are seeking to halt a three-game losing streak after dropping an 88-84 overtime decision to Lincoln last Saturday in Jefferson City, Mo.
• The Gorillas travel to Warrensburg after splitting a pair of MIAA home games last week, posting a 65-62 win over Newman University on Jan. 9 before dropping a 78-73 decision to the University of Central Oklahoma on Jan. 11.
• Currently on a six-game win streak, Missouri Southern is ranked 10th in the nation and at the top of the MIAA standings as the only undefeated team in the league.
• The Lion take on Lincoln Wednesday night in Jefferson City before facing the Mules on Saturday.
• Central Missouri is currently 5-4 while playing in the Multipurpose Building this season. In the Mules last home game they recorded a season-high shooting performance in a 93-62 win over Saint Mary's (Kan.).
Quick Hits:
Last Time Out
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.
• 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.
• 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.
Previously vs. Pittsburg State
• Wednesday's match-up will be the 119th meeting between the Gorillas and the Mules.
• Central Missouri holds a 73-45 advantage in the all-time series against Pitt, including a 46-13 edge in games played at Warrensburg, Mo.
• The Mules have won 12 of the last 13 meetings at the Multipurpose Building.
• The last time UCM defeated the Gorillas was a 87-85 Mules victory in the 2017-18 regular season.
Previously vs. Missouri Southern
• Saturday's match-up marks the 67th meeting between the Lions and the Mules.
• Central Missouri leads the all-time series 38-28.
• The Lions have won the last three consecutive meets against the Mules. The last time Central Missouri defeated Missouri Southern was a 99-66 Mules victory in the MIAA tournament during the 2016-17 season.
Individual Milestones
•
Matt Wilkinson surpassed the 500 career point marker in the first nine games this season. Wilkinson also surpassed 100 rebounds on his career and is currently four boards away from 200 career rebounds.
• In Central Missouri's last outing against Saint Mary's, Wilkinson recorded a career-high performance with 22 points.
• With 58 points this season,
Daniel Farris surpassed the 400 career point marker in the Mules upset over #1 Northwest Missouri. The junior guard is also four assists away from 200 career assists.
•
Gaven Pinkley had a career-high game against Upper Iowa in the second week of the 2019-20 season. Pinkley scored a career-high of 21 points and brought down a career-high of 17 rebounds.
• Pinkley surpassed 300 career points in her career-high 23-point performance against Lincoln on Jan. 11.
•
Michael Winger had a career-high shooting performance in UCM's 82-46 win over Central Christian on Nov. 30, 2019. The redshirt junior hit 7-8 from 87.5% from the field and 5-6 for 83.3% from the three point range to record a career-high of 21 points.
Scouting the Competition:
Pittsburg State Gorillas (6-9, 2-4 MIAA)
• After finishing 17-13 overall and 9-10 last season in the MIAA, the Gorillas were selected eighth in the league's preseason poll. Pitt State is currently 6-9 overall and 2-4 in MIAA play.
• As a team, Pitt State is shooting 43.9% from the field and 36.1% from the three-point range.
• The Gorillas have two players scoring in double figures on the season, senior guards A.J. Walker (18.3 ppg) and Jah-Kobe Womack (14.0 ppg).
• Walker comes to Warrensburg on a hot streak, as he just scored a career high 26 points in the Gorillas win vs. Newman on Jan. 9.
• Womack is averaging 14.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game to date. He has made a team-leading 34 3-point field goals (2.3 pg). Womack (6-3, 175) scored a season high 27 points vs. Drury on Dec. 22.
• Senior forward Christian Edmondson has averaged 7.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting a team-best 60.3 percent form the field, making 41 of 68 shots from the floor. Edmondson also has blocked 19 shots in 14 gamed played (1.4 bpg), ranking fifth in the MIAA in blocked shots. He also ranks fifth in the league in rebounding.
No. 10 Missouri Southern Lions (13-2, 6-0 MIAA)
• After going 25-8 overall and 14-5 in the MIAA last season, Missouri Southern was selected as the league's runner-ups in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Lions are currently the only team to remain undefeated against MIAA competitors with a conference record of 6-0 and an overall record of 13-2.
• The Lions lead the MIAA in scoring with 88.8 points per game. They rank second in the league with a team field goal percentage of 50.4% and a three-point field goal percentage of 40%.
• Missouri Southern also leads the MIAA defensively with 40.7 rebounds per game.
• As a team, The Lions rank 11th in scoring margin, 12th in assist to turnover ratio, 13th in rebound margin, 14th in field goal percentage, 15th in three pointers per game, 18th in assist per game, 19th in three point
percentage, 23rd in total three pointers made per game, 25th in defensive rebounds per game, 28th in fewest turnovers per game and 30th in total assists.
• Junior forward Cam Martin leads the MIAA in free throw attempts and free throws made (75-97), while ranking second in scoring (21.3 ppg), rebounds per game (9.0), total field goals made (114), total points (319) and total rebounds (135).
• From the three-point range, Elyjah Clark ranks seventh in the league with 2.4 three's per game.
Mules Feed:
• As a team, the Mules are currently shooting 44.8% from the field and 36.9% from the three-point range.
• Central Missouri currently ranks fourth in the MIAA in defensive field goal percentage and in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score an average of 67.2 points per game.
• The Mules lead the league with 7.7 steals per game while also ranking in the top-10 of the MIAA in three-pointers made per game averaging 8.7 per contest.
• Central Missouri's upset over No. 1 Northwest Missouri on Dec. 7 was the first time UCM has defeated the No. 1 ranked team was when they beat Metro State in the NCAA Tournament semifinals back in 2014.
• Sophomore forward
Gaven Pinkley paces Central Missouri averaging 14.4 points and about six rebounds per game. Pinkley has scored in double figures in 12 of the Mules 14 games so far this season, including a season-high performance of 21 points against Augustana and followed with a 20-point effort against Upper Iowa.
• Winger leads the Mules from outside the arc with 24 three's on the season and a three-point field goal percentage of 46.2.
• Junior guard
Daniel Farris leads the Mules with 49 assists which ranks in the top-10 of the MIAA. Farris also has the team-high of 19 steals which also ranks top-10 in the league.
