WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 9, 2021) - Four Mules finish in double-figures as Central Missouri's second-half comeback fell short against Nebraska-Kearney. 

How it Happened:
• The Mules came out hot against the Lopers as a three-pointer by Jalen Blaize was followed with a Gavin Pinkley layup to give UCM a quick 5-0 advantage after a minute of play. 
• Nebraska-Kearney answered the Mules lead with a 10-0 run to gain the led which they would hold for the entirety of the half. 
• The Lopers outscored the Mules 41-29 in the first half, shooting 46.9% from the field with seven three-point field goals. 
• Central Missouri began to chip away at UNK's double-figure lead to begin the second half as Blaize drove in for a layup to bring the Mules within eight points at the 17:11 mark.
• The Mules came within one score of the Lopers in the final minutes but were unable to gain an advantage before the end of the second half.
• After seven first-half three's, UCM held the Lopers to a 1-7 shooting performance from outside the arc in the second half. 
• Central Missouri's offense also outshone in the second half, hitting 16-30 for 53.3%.
• Overall, the Mules shot 45.6% (26-57) from the field, 35% (7-20) from the three, and 66.7% (10-15) from the free-throw line while the Lopers hit 43.1% (25-58) from the field, 34.8% (8-23) from the three-point range, and 73.7% (14-19) from the foul line. 
• Nebraska-Kearney also saw an advantage at the boards, out-rebounding the Mules 39-32. 

It Was Over When...
A solo three at the top of the key by Cameron Hunter brought the Mules within three points of the Lopers with under a minute to play. A stop by the Mules defense gave UCM possession with seconds left on the clock. A foul by Cedric Johnson set Hunter to the line where he went 2-2, making it a one-point game at 70-69. Koray Gilbert set RJ Pair to the line to stop the clock. Pair also went 2-2, giving the Lopers a three-point advantage with just four seconds left to play. Hunter's attempt at the game-tying three fell short, Lopers win 72-69. 

Leading the Mules:
• Hunter went 5-9 from the field, 2-6 from the three and 7-8 from the free-throw line to lead UCM with 19. 
• Pinkley collected six points in the paint went 1-2 at the line to finish with 13. Pinkley also led the Mules defense with six rebounds. 
• Ja'Cor Nelson hit 5-9 with one three and free-throw to total 12 points. 
• Blaize led the Mules from outside the arc with three three's as he finished with 11.

Leading the Lopers:
• Austin Luger went 7-15 in the field, 3-6 from the three-point range, and finished a perfect 4-4 at the foul line to record the game-high 21 points.
• Luger also led the UNK defense with 12 boards, recording his third double-double of the season. 
• Nebraska-Kearney's leading scorer Jake Walker finished with 13 points. 

News & Notes:
• This is the Mules sixth game out-scoring their opponents in the second half this season. 
• Pinkley has scored in double-figures in seven of the Mules nine games, four consecutive, while this was hunter's sixth double-digit game.
• Dillon Blain played a career-high 18 minutes and recorded five rebounds, a career-best. 
• With this win the Lopers decrease UCM's lead in the all-time series, 8-7. 

Up Next:
Mules basketball returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 14th as they hit the round for a pair of away contests. The Mules first visit the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in Edmond, Okla.