WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 28, 2020) - The Central Missouri Mules basketball squad shot over 50% from the floor and over 60% from the three to earn their first victory of the 2020-21 season with a 88-80 win over Pittsburg State. Five Mules finished in double-figure scoring led by
Jalen Blaize with a career-high 25 points against the Gorillas.
How It Happened:
• Central Missouri and the Gorillas matched point-for-point with five lead changes in the first six minutes after tip-off.
• With a one-point advantage up 15-14 at the 13:46 mark, Blaize's first three-pointer of the game started a 12-4 run to give the Mules a 27-18 lead over PSU with just under 10 minutes left to play in the first half.
• After a six-minute scoring drought by UCM, the Gorillas were able to regain the lead at 28-27 with 4:14 to play until the break.
• The Mules answered PSU's lead change with back-to-back three's by Gavin Pinkley and
Dillon Blain sending UCM into halftime with a 33-30 advantage.
• The Gorillas (13-29) and the Mules (13-28) both shot around 45% from the field in the first half but UCM had the advantage from outside the arc hitting 3-6 compared to PSU's 1-9 from the three-point range.
•
Ante Sustic led the UCM offense in the first half scoring eight points in the paint.
• Central Missouri continued to lead throughout the second half but not without contest as the Gorillas came within one point twice within the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
• The Mules saw their biggest lead of the game with a 55-44 advantage over PSU with 11:39 left to play.
• Pitt State came within four points of the Mules around the five minute mark but were unable to gain another lead over UCM as the Mules would go on to win the hard-fought battle 88-80.
• Central Missouri finished 28-50 from the field for 56% shooting and went 10-16 from the three-point range for an impressive 62.5%.
• A quarter of the Mules points were made at the foul line as they finished 22-28 for 78.6%.
• The Gorillas finished 30-60 from the field for 50%, 8-24 from behind the arc for 33.3%, and hit 12-19 from the free-throw line for 63.2%.
• Pitt State did see an advantage on the boards, out-rebounding the Mules 35-26.
It Was Over When...
• At the 2:08 mark, the Mules had an 11-point advantage over PSU at 78-67.
• With the Mules already in the double-bonus, PSU sent
Cameron Hunter to the foul line five times in the final minutes. Hunter went 8-10 at the line to hold onto the Mules lead a secure the UCM victory.
Leading the Mules:
• Five Mules finished in double-figures as UCM shot over 50% from the field and 60% from the three.
• Blaize went 7-13 from the field, 5-7 from the three-point range, and 6-7 at the free-throw line to led the Mules with a game-high and career-high 25 points.
• Pinkley hit a career-high four three's as he finished 5-7 from the field and 4-5 from behind the arc to add 14 points.
• Hunter was just 1-3 from the field but landed 11-14 from the free-throw line to total 13. Hunter also recorded a game-high and career-high nine assists.
• Sustic finished 5-7 from inside the paint and was a perfect 2-2 at the foul line to add 12.
•
Mohammed Abubakar led the Mules defense with seven rebounds while also finishing 4-5 in the paint and 2-3 at the foul line for 10 points.
For the Gorillas:
• Quentin Hardrict Jr. was 8-13 from the field, 2-4 from the three, and 2-3 from the free-throw line to lead the Gorillas with 20.
• Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. finished 6-12 from the field, 1-5 from deep, and 2-5 at the foul line to total 15 points. Williams was just two boards shy of a double-double with the game-high eight rebounds.
• Four Gorillas finished with eight points.
• Ryan Pippins and Hardrict led PSU with four assists apiece.
News & Notes:
• The Mules have outscored their opponents in the second half in every game so far this season.
• Central Missouri 62.5% shooting performance from the three was the first time shooting over 60% from the three-point range since Dec. 31st of the 2019-20 season.
• The Mules increase their lead in the all-time series over Pitt State 75-48.
Next Up:
Central Missouri begins a four-game road stretch beginning with an MIAA match up against the top-ranked Bearcats of Northwest Missouri. The Mules and Bearcats are scheduled to tip-off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3rd in Maryville, Missouri.
