PITTSBURG, Kan. (Feb. 29, 2020) - Central Missouri Mules Basketball lost a hard-fought battle to Pittsburg State in their final regular-season game of the 2020 season. The Pittsburg victory punches the Gorillas' ticket to the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City.
How It Happened:
• Pitt State held a steady lead for the first nine minutes after the tip until a jumper by
Koray Gilbert gave the Mules a 20-19 advantage.
• At the 5:52 mark, Central Missouri and Pitt were tied 29-29 and remained tied for four minutes and 25 seconds of scoreless basketball.
• The game was tied twice and saw three lead changes in the final 10 minutes of the first half as the Gorillas led 32-31 into the break.
• The Gorillas led the entire second half with their largest lead being an 11 point difference with just under 10 minutes to play.
• After shooting 7-12 from behind the arc in the the first half, the Mules were just 4-12 from the three in the second half.
• Pitt State improved their long shot in the second half, hitting 7-11 for 68.6%.
• Central Missouri finished the game 23-51 for 45% while Pitt State went 25-54 for 46.3% and had five different players score in double-figures.
• The Mules outperformed the Gorillas at the free throw line, shooting 16-20 to Pitt's 18-26.
• Pitt State out-rebounded UCM 33-20 while totaling 11 points off of 11 offensive boards.
It Was Over When...
• With 27 seconds left on the clock, Gilbert went 1-2 at the foul line to make it a four-point game.
• Forced to foul, UCM sent Pitt State to the free throw line where the Gorillas made 6-6 in the seconds of the game.
Leading the Mules:
•
Kendale Hampton finished 7-12 with four three's and 4-5 at the free throw line to record the game-high of 22 points.
• The senior guard also recorded the team-high four assists.
•
Garrett Luinstra totaled 17 points. A new career-high for the sophomore transfer.
•
Matt Wilkinson tied his season-high rebounds to lead the defense with seven.
For the Gorillas:
• Marcel Cherry went 6-10 with five three's to lead Pitt State's offense with 17 points.
• A.J. Walker finished a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line while totaling 16 points.
• Dejon Waters Jr. went 5-5 from behind the arc. He finished with 15.
• Christian Edmondson led the defense with six boards.
News & Notes:
• With today's win over UCM, the Gorillas advance to the MIAA Tournament.
• The Mules 45.8 three-point field goal percentage was their sixth-best performance from behind the arc this season.
• Hampton has scored double-figures in 16 games.
