WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 6, 2021) - Central Missouri Mules Basketball returns from an 18-day game break with a pair of MIAA contests in the Multipurpose Building. 

OPPONENTS
Fort Hays State Tigers (3-4, 3-4 MIAA)
Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (2-5, 2-5 MIAA)

WHEN
Thursday, Jan. 7 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9 - 3:00 p.m.

WHERE
Warrensburg, Mo. - UCM Multipurpose Building 

FAN INFORMATION
• The UCM Multipurpose Building is limited to 25% capacity. Fans are strongly encourage to purchase their tickets in advance at the link above.
• Face masks are required at all times while on the UCM campus. 
• Fans are strongly encouraged to socially distance themselves when seated and only sit with the group they entered the facility with.
• Restrooms and east-end concessions will be open, but fans are asked not to congregate in hallways or the lobby. 
• There will be no reserved seating for visiting fans behind the visiting bench. 

ON THE AIR
• Games will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action. 
• All games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules 
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com. 

TIP-OFF
• After four consecutive road games, Central Missouri Mules Basketball returns to the Multipurpose Building to open the New Year with MIAA matchups against Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney. 
• The Tigers travel to the Burg with a single-game losing streak after falling to No. 22 Missouri Western 84-76 on January 2nd. 
• Like the Mules, UNK hasn't faced competition since December 20th. The Lopers are set to take on Lincoln Thursday night before meeting the Mules Saturday afternoon. 

MULE FEED
• The Mules are 1-6 to begin the season.
• The Mules claimed their first win against Pitt State, shooting over 50% from the floor and 60% from the three-point range to defeat the Gorillas 88-80.
• Central Missouri has shot over 50% in three of their seven games this season. They are currently 44.3% (162-366) from the floor and 36.3% (49-135) from the three-point range.
• The Mules have out-scored their opponents in the second-half in all games but three games.
• Cameron Hunter leads the Mules offense and ranks seventh in the league in scoring averaging 17.3 points per game. Hunter also leads UCM in, assists (26) and steals (12). 
• Also averaging in double-figure scoring is Jalen Blaize with 11.4 points per game. Blaize went 7-13 from the field, 5-7 from the three, and 6-7 at the foul line to put up a career-high 25 points in UCM's win over PSU. 
• Blaize leads also the MIAA from the three-throw line shooting 94.7%.
• Ja'Cor Nelson scored a season-high 20 points against No.10 Washburn. Nelson finished 7-13 from the field at 5-6 at the foul line while also leading the Mules with seven rebounds. 
• Gaven Pinkley leads the Mules from behind the arc shooting 46.7% (14-30) while averaging 11.9 points per game. 
• Central Missouri's bigs Mohammed Abubakar and Ante Sustic are both shooting over 65% from in the paint. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. FORT HAYS STATE
• Central Missouri currently leads the all-time series against the Tigers by two games, 14-12. 
• Last season Fort Hays defeated the Mules 65-50 in the Multipurpose Building. 
• The last three matchups between the Tigers and Mules have been hosting by UCM with Fort Hays losing two of the three. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
• Central Missouri also leads the all-time series against the Lopers by only two victories, 8-6.
• The Lopers and Mules met once last season which resulted in a 78-74 UNK victory in the Multipurpose Building. 
• The Mules have won four of the last five matchups against UNK.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
• Prior to their loss against No.22 Missouri Western last week, Fort Hays State was riding a three-game win streak which was sparked by a 81-68 victory over Kansas State in an exhibition game. 
• In their last outing against the Griffons, Fort Hays recorded a season-high 42 rebounds while also shooting a season-high attempts from inside and outside the arc. 
• The Tigers currently rank fourth in the league from the three-point range shooting 36.5% (50-137) and fifth in shooting with a 46.2 (184-398) field-goal percentage. 
• Fort Hays also leads the MIAA from the free-throw line, hitting 122-148 on the season for 82.4%.
• The Tigers are led by season Jared Vitztum. Vitztum ranks fifth in the MIAA averaging 19.8 points per game and is the second-best rebounder in the league with 10.3 boards per contest. 
• Vitztum has five double-doubles so far this season. 
• Quinten Rock leads the Tigers from the three with 16 on the season for 48.5% while Kaleb Hammeke is Fort Hay's leading passer with 4.6 assists per game to rank third in the league.  
• The Tigers are currently 1-2 in road games this season. 

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
• The 2-5 Lopers have been off since a 72-66 home win vs. Northeastern State on December 20. They face Lincoln on the road before traveling to Warrensburg to take on the Mules. 
• In their last outing, seniors Austin Luger and Jake Walker combined for 43 points.
• Nebraska-Kearney sits at the bottom of the MIAA in scoring with an average of just 65.9 points per game. 
• The Lopers offense is led by Jake Walker who ranks sixth in the league with 18.6 points per game and ranks seventh from the three-point range shooting 36.6% (15-41).
• Luger leads the Loper defense with 7.4 boards per game while also averaging 14.6 points per contest. 
• Morris leads UNK with a 57.6 (19-33) field-goal percentage. 
• The Lopers have yet to secure a road victory in the 2020-21 season. 

LAST TIME OUT
EMPORIA, Kan. (Dec. 19, 2020) - Central Missouri grabbed an early lead in the second half, but couldn't hang on in a 73-64 loss at Emporia State. It was the final game before the holiday break for the Mules who fall to 1-6.
• The Mules shot 38% for the game and 37% from three. UCM was 8-17 from behind the arc in the second half.
• Emporia hit on 45% of their shots and were 11-26 from three. The Hornets also went 20-23 at the free throw line while UCM was 10-12.
• Emporia State held a 34-28 rebounding edge. The Mules though outscored ESU 20-18 in the paint and 12-5 on second-chance points.
• The Mules forced 16 turnovers and scored 19 points off them with 14 fast-break points. 
• The Hornets lead for much of the first half, nearly 17 minutes. The jumped out to an eight-point lead, 18-10 and that's around where the lead stayed for much of the half.
• UCM started making a comeback thanks to a 7-1 run, cutting the lead down to one, 21-20 after a three from Ja'Cor Nelson. The Mules grabbed their first lead, 25-24 following an Ante Sustic three-point play.
• The Mules led by two in the closing seconds of the half, but a Ben Smith three gave ESU a one-point lead, 27-26 at the break. 
• Central Missouri came out on fire in the second half. They scored the first eight points getting back-to-back three's from Gaven Pinkley and Jalen Blaize and led 34-27 forcing an ESU timeout.
• The lead quickly disappeared though as Emporia State cut it to one, 36-35 at the under 15 timeout. Emporia State took the lead, 39-35 converting on a four-point play and never trailed again.
• Pinkley hit another triple and the two teams traded three-point baskets. Still tied at 44, the Hornets went on another run, this time 8-0 for a 52-44 lead midway through the half.
• The Mules stayed in the game hitting a bunch of threes, but ESU was there to answer each time and time ran out as the Mules fell 73-64.
• Gaven Pinkley scored 17 points with six rebounds. He was 5-14 from the floor and 3-8 from three.
• Jalen Blaize scored 17 as well with three three-pointers and three steals.

MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• Central Missouri is currently 1-6 in MIAA competition this season. 
• The Mules finished 12th in the MIAA last season, above Emporia State and Newman. 
• The Mules are 59-63 in conference play under Doug Karleskint.

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
• This is the 115th season of Central Missouri Mules Basketball.
• Central Missouri is third all-time in NCAA Division II men's basketball with 1,719 wins.
• The Mules have won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships overall (1937 & 1938 NAIB).