WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 7, 2021) - After an 18-day game break, the Central Missouri Mules basketball team kicked off the new year with a 71-64 victory over Fort Hays State. Ja'Cor Nelson and Jalen Blaize combined for 42 points to lead the UCM offense. 

How it Happened:
• The Mules started off 3-3 from the field and broke a 10-all tie with a Nelson fast-break layup.
• Up by three, 16-13, Blaize used the glass for a deep three and UCM had their largest lead, 19-13.
• Central Missouri used a 17-2 run midway through the first to take their largest lead of the half, 29-14. Cameron Hunter came away with a steal and a thunderous dunk to bring the crowd to their feet.
• After the 17-2 Mule run, the Tigers went on a run of their own scoring 11 of the next 15 points and cutting the lead to eight.
• In the closing seconds before the break, Gaven Pinkley took a page from Jalen Blaize's playbook with a banked three at the buzzer and UCM went into the half up 11, 38-27.
• The Tigers began to chip away at UCM's lead, outscoring the Mules 12-6 in the first four minute of the second half. 
• With the lead decreasing, Blaize hit back-to-back three's which were followed by a fast break lay-up by Nelson to give the Mules a quick 8-0 run and a 50-39 lead with 15 minutes left to play. 
• At the 10 minute mark, a layup Gilbert Peters sparked a 12-1 run by the Tigers to make it a two-point game, 59-57, with 6:28 to go. 
• After a point-for-point battle, a pair of Blaize free-throws and a three-point play by Cameron Hunter regained a steady UCM lead with under a minute left on the clock.
• Nelson scored the final points of the game with a fast break dunk as the Mules defeated the Tigers 71-64.
• Central Missouri shot for over 50% in each half to finish the game 29-53 for 54.7%. They went just 4-14 from the three-point range for 28.6% and hit 9-15 from the foul line for 60%.
• Fort Hays State finished 21-47 from the field for 44.7%, 4-18 from behind the arc for 22.2%, and 18-24 from the free-throw line for 75%.
• Over half of UCM's points were scored from inside the paint (40). 
• The Mules scored 22 points off Fort Hays State's season-high 18 turnovers. 

It Was Over When...
A layup by Fort Hays State's leading scorer Jared Vitztum brought the Tigers within five points, 69-64, with 40 seconds left to play. Nelson's dunk added another two points to UCM's final total while the Mules defense recorded two final stops to secure the 71-64 victory. 

Leading the Mules:
• Nelson made a season-high 11 field goals on 16 attempts to lead the Mules with a season-high 22 points. Nelson also recorded a season-high of 5 steals to lead the Mules. 
• Blaize finished 7-13 from the field, 3-8 from the three, and 3-4 at the foul line for 20 points.
• Pinkley totaled 13 points while leading the defense with seven rebounds.
• Hunter shot a perfect 2-2 in the field and 3-3 at the free-throw line to finish with seven points. Hunter also led the Mules with six assists. 

For the Tigers:
• Vitztum went 7-11 from the field, 2-5 from the three, and 6-7 at the free-throw line to lead Fort Hays State with 22 points. Vitztum also led the Tigers defense with the game-high nine rebounds. 
• Peters finished 5-6 from inside the point and 3-5 at the foul line to add 13. 

News & Notes:
• This was the Mules fourth game of the season shooting 50% or better.
• The Mules tied their season-high of 29 made field goals. 
• Central Missouri recorded their largest lead of the season at a 15-point advantage over the Tigers at the 6:36 mark in the first half. 
• Pinkley has scored in double-figures in six of the Mules eight games while Blaize has recorded five double-digit games and Nelson has four. 
• Central Missouri continues to lead the all-time series against Fort Hays State 15-12.

Up Next:
Mules basketball returns to the Multipurpose Building on Saturday, Jan. 9th as they host the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. Tip off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., following the Jennies game.