WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 18, 2020) - Central Missouri Mules Basketball defeated Lincoln 69-62 on Tuesday night in their last home game of the season. The Mules seniors outshined in their final outting in the Multipurpose Building as Matt Wilkinson recorded a career-high 24 points and Kendale Hampton finished with a double-double, 19 points and 12 rebounds.

How It Happened:
• Central Missouri and Lincoln went make-for-make and miss-for-miss the entire 40 minutes of play.
• Lead possession changed a total of 16 times while the Mules and Blue Tigers were tied on 13 different occasions.
• In the first half, Lincoln hit over 50% of their 28 field goal attempts while the Mules found success from behind the arc, making six of their 15 attempts for 40%. 
• Wilkinson totaled 13 of the Mules 32 first-half points. 
• Coming out of the break tied 32-32, the Blue Tigers made their first five consecutive shots out of the half. 
• The Mules continued to keep pace with Lincoln throughout the entire second half trading basket-for-basket.
• Although the Blue Tigers spent a total of 21:29 minutes with the lead, Central Missouri pull it off in the final minute to defeat Lincoln 69-62.
• Central Missouri finsihed 22-57 from the field for 38.6%, 9-28 from the three for 32.1% and hit 16-18 at the free throw line for 88.9%.
•  Lincoln hit 26-5y for 45.6% from the field and struggles from behind the arc and the foul line, making just 2-11 three's and 8-14 free throws. 
•  The Blue Tigers did win the rebounding battle, totalling 36 boards to the Mules 32.
•  Lincoln's 11 three-point attempts is an opponent season low for the Mules. 

It Was Over When...
After a technical foul call on the Blue Tigers, Wilkinson's trip to the free throw line awarded the Mules a two-point lead at 64-62 with 1:25 left to play. Lincoln was 0-3 in the final minute while the Mules hit five of their six free throw attempts. Mules win 69-62.

Leading the Mules:
• Wilkinson finished 6-12 for 50% while knocking down three of his nine three-point attempts. Wilkinson also led the Mules at the foul line, hitting a season-high 9-9. The senior ended his final game in UCM's Multipurpose Building with a career-high of 24 poitns. 
• Hampton also had a night in his final outing on the Mules home court. Hampton recorded his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds. 
• Garrett Luinstra also recorded a new career-high of 13 points. 
• DeAndre Sorrells led the Mules with four assists. 
• Gaven Pinkley recorded a season-high of three blocks.

For the Blue Tigers:
• Cameron Potts finished 7-12 from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line to lead Lincoln with 18 points.
• Potts also recorded the Tigers team-high of eight boards. 
• Jonell Burton finished with 14 points.

News & Notes:
• Tuesday night's win against Lincoln terminates a four-game losing streak for the Mules. 
• Central Missouri lead the Tigers to an opponent season-low of 11 three-point attempts.
• The Mules continue to lead the all-time series against Lincoln, 61-36.
• The Mules went 9-7 while playing at at home this season.

Up Next:
Mules Basketball (10-15, 5-11) return to action Thursday, Feb. 20, to take on the Washburn Ichabods. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Topeka, Kan.