Mules Basketball Hosts Grand View Tuesday to Tip-Off Season

Tip-Off
• University of Central Missouri Mules basketball tips off its 2021-22 season with a 1 p.m. contest against the Grand View Vikings Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
• The contest will mark the first of five straight home games to begin the season for Mules hoops.

Storylines
• Central Missouri returns four starters and six letterwinners from last season's team that posted an overall record of 7-15.
• Returning starters include redshirt junior forward Gaven Pinkley, redshirt senior guard Ja'Cor Nelson, redshirt senior guard Koray Gilbert and redshirt senior guard Cameron Hunter.
• Other returners for UCM include redshirt junior guard Garrett Luinstra, redshirt freshman guard Easton Darling and redshirt freshman forward Austin Murrow.
• Central Missouri welcomes nine newcomers for 2021-22, including five transfers and four freshmen. Incoming transfers include redshirt junior guard Matthew Todd, redshirt sophomore guard Ikenna Okeke, redshirt sophomore guard Trey Sides, redshirt freshman guard Reggie Morris and redshirt sophomore forward Mark Mayle, while incoming freshmen are guard Connor Arment, guard/forward Blake Busateri, guard Jaden Rogers and forward Ben Fritz.

Mules in the Rankings
• The Mules are picked 11th in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and Media Poll. UCM received 59 points in the coaches' poll and 38 points in the media poll.

Individual Milestones
• Cameron Hunter enters the season just 77 points shy of 1,000 in his career. He is at 923 going into Tuesday's game.

Head Coach Doug Karleskint
• Doug Karleskint is in his eighth season as head coach of the Central Missouri men's basketball program in 2021-22.
• Karleskint's Mules have won 20 or more games three times in seven years. His 25 wins in 2014-15 are the most ever for a first-year head coach in program history as the Mules advanced to the second round of the NCAA Regional Championship. Karleskint has also led the Mules to an MIAA Championship game and four MIAA Tournament appearances.

Up Next
• The Mules host Maryville in a non-conference game Friday, Nov. 19, at the UCM Multipurpose Building. Tip-off time is to be determined.

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