WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 29, 2020) - Central Missouri Mules Basketball picked up their third MIAA win of the season in a 67-49 victory over Emporia State. The Mules held the Hornets to their second-lowest scoring performance of the season, shooting just 37% from the field and 27% from the three-point range. 

How it Happened:
• After allowing the Hornets to lead for just 17 seconds, Central Missouri started heating up, scoring four three's in the first five minutes.
• The Mules saw their biggest lead of the first half at the 10 minute mark as UCM lead 23-15. 
• At the half, the Mules lead 33-25 after hitting 13-29 for 44.8% from the field and 5-14 for 35.7% from the three. 
• Kendale Hampton opened the second-half with a long jumper which was followed by a Daniel Farris steal and fast break layup to continue a Mules 10-0 run, their longest run of the game. 
• With under 10 minutes to play, a three-point play by Walter Sorrells Jr. gave UCM their largest lead of the game at 59-33. The 26-point advantage over the Hornets was the Mules biggest lead over a Division II opponent this season. 
• Central Missouri continued to hold a 20+ point lead over Emporia State for the remaining eight minutes of the game. 
• After hitting 6-15 for 40% from beyond the arc in the first half, the Hornets went 0-7 from the three in the second half. 
• Emporia State finished 18-49 from the field for 36.7%, their second-lowest field-goal percentage of the season while their 27.3% from behind the arc was their third-lowest three-point field goal percentage on the year. 
• Central Missouri finished 26-60 from the field for 43.3% and 9-25 from the three for 36%. 
• The Hornets had the edge on the boards, out-rebounding the Mules 40-35.
• The Mules totaled 20 points off Emporia's 18 turnovers, which also allowed for a UCM season-high of 13 steals.

It Was Over When...
• With just under three minutes to play, a trip to the foul line by Gaven Pinkley matched the Mules game-high 26-point advantage. The free throw would be the Mules final points of the game while Emporia was only able to decrease their deficit by eight points in the remaining minutes. 

Leading the Mules:
• Pinkely lead the UCM offense and defense with 11 points and eight rebounds. 
• Hampton went 4-9 from the field and 2-4 from the three to total 10 points. The senior guard also brought down six boards. 
• Michael Winger lead the Mules from the three as he finished 3-5 from behind the arc and 3-6 from inside to total nine points.
• Farris recorded the team-highs of four assists and three steal. 

For the Hornets:
• Keyon Thomas lead Emporia State with 10 points.
• Mason Thiessen lead the defense with eight rebounds and a block. 

News & Notes:
• The Mules 13 steals is a season-high. Central Missouri leads the MIAA with 149 steals on the season while averaging 7.84 per game. 
• Pinkley has scored in double-figures in 16 of the Mules 19 games. 
• Sorrells Jr. played a season-high of seven minutes and scored a season-high of five points. 
• Dillon Blain earned his first career start for the Mules. 
• Central Missouri continues to lead the all-time series over the Hornets 74-41.

Up Next: 
Mules Basketball (8-11, 3-7 MIAA) returns to the Multipurpose Building on Saturday, Feb. 1, to take on Washburn. The Ichabods are currently fourth in the MIAA. Tip off is set for 3 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo.