Mules Host Washburn on New Year's Eve; Emporia State Monday

Game 10: Central Missouri (6-3, 3-2 MIAA) vs. Washburn (6-6, 3-3 MIAA)
Friday, Dec. 31 | 4 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
**NOTE: Game moved up from Saturday, Jan. 1, due to forecasted inclement weather**
Live Stats

Game 11: Central Missouri vs. Emporia State (9-3, 4-2 MIAA)
Monday, Jan. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats

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TIP-OFF
• Central Missouri Mules basketball returns to the Multipurpose Building after a two-week holiday break for a pair of MIAA games against Washburn and Emporia State Dec. 31 and Jan. 3. The Mules will host Washburn at 4 p.m. on New Year's Eve Friday, Dec. 31, before entertaining Emporia State Monday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 p.m.
• UCM is coming off a pair of MIAA road wins at Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. Central Missouri rolled to an 87-57 victory at Missouri Southern Dec. 16 prior to taking down Pittsburg State, 66-58, Dec. 18.

ON THE AIR
• Both games will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 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.

LAST TIME OUT
• Gaven Pinkley scored a game-high 24 points and Ja'Cor Nelson had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to lead Central Missouri Mules basketball to a 66-58 victory at Pittsburg State Saturday, Dec. 18, inside John Lance Arena.
• Pinkley went 7-of-15 from the field, 2-of-9 from three-point range and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line for his season-best 24 points and had nine boards in the game, while Nelson, a redshirt senior from Hopkins, S.C., went 4-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-4 at the free-throw line for his 11 points and pulled down 10 boards to complete his third double-double of the season.
• Ikenna Okeke also reached double figures with 10 points, and Matt Todd dished out five assists and had only one turnover in the contest.
• The Mules shot 41 percent from the floor (20-of-49), 16 percent from three-point range (4-of-25) and were an impressive 82 percent at the free-throw line, making 22 of 27 attempts.

SERIES HISTORY VS. WASHBURN
• The Mules trail the Ichabods in the all-time series, 55-52, dating back to the inaugural meeting in 1912.
• Last meeting: Washburn defeated UCM, 70-68, in Warrensburg Feb. 13, 2021.

SCOUTING WASHBURN
• Washburn enters Friday at an even 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA after falling at home to Northeastern State Dec. 20 in Topeka, Kan., 85-82.
• Through 12 games, Washburn is led by Jalen Lewis (14.3 ppg., 2.9 rpg., .913 FT%), Michael Keegan (11.2 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 19 steals, 15 blocks) and Tyler Geiman (10.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 32 assists).

SERIES HISTORY VS. EMPORIA STATE
• UCM leads the all-time series against the Hornets, 74-42, going back to the first meeting in 1907.
• Last meeting: ESU defeated UCM, 73-64, in Emporia, Kan., Dec. 19, 2020.

SCOUTING EMPORIA STATE
• Entering their game against Lincoln Saturday, the Emporia State Hornets are 9-3 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA. Most recently, ESU defeated Rogers State at home in Emporia, Kan., Dec. 20, 72-60.
• With 12 games elapsed, Emporia State is paced by Tray Buchanan (26.4 ppg., 3.9 rpg., .505 FG%, .874 FT%, 35 assists) and Jumah'Ri Turner (17.4 ppg., 3.1 rpg., 19 steals). Buchanan leads the MIAA in scoring through 12 contests.

MULES IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
• The Mules are 159-42 over the last 18 seasons.
• Central Missouri is now 82-5 in the last 87 non-conference home games at the Multipurpose Building.

MULES AT HOME
• The Mules are 4-2 at home in 2021-22 after falling to Northwest Missouri State.
• The Mules are 62-50 at home under Karleskint.
• Central Missouri has posted a 191-36 record at home over the last 14 seasons, including 82-7 against non-conference opponents and 115-29 in MIAA play.

INDIVIDUAL MILESTONES
• Cameron Hunter surpassed 1,000 career points in the Mules 87-57 victory at Missouri Southern Dec. 16. Going into Friday's game against Washburn, Hunter sits at 1,009 career points.

UCM DURING THE KARLESKINT ERA
• Doug Karleskint enters the 2021-22 season with a record of 112-88 (.588) as head coach at Central Missouri and a 193-107 (.643) overall mark in his 12th season as a head coach.
• Doug saw is 100th career win as head coach of the Mules last season in a 93-62 victory over Saint Mary's. Their 93 points was the most single game points scored by the Mules all season.
• Karleskint became the first Mules' head coach to start his first season at UCM 7-0 when he accomplished the mark in 2014-15.
• His 25 wins in 2014-15 were the most by a first-year head coach in Central Missouri history.
• Karleskint became the fourth Mules' head coach to win at least 20 games in his first season.
• Before coming to UCM, he spent the previous five seasons at Arkansas Tech, including the last four as head coach. He compiled an 88-34-2 (.718) record with the Wonder Boys with four conference championships and four trips to the NCAA-II National Tournament, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2012.

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
• This is the 116th 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).

MULE FEED
• 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 BASKETBALL HISTORY
• In the 116th season of UCM basketball, the Mules have compiled a 1,719-997 (.633) record in 2,716 total games.
• The Mules are the third winningest program by victories in NCAA-II history.
• Central Missouri is one of just four NCAA-II programs with 1,700 all-time wins.
• The Mules have won 20 or more games 26 times in the history of the program.
• Central Missouri has won 30 or more games in a season three times (2006-07, 2008-09, and 2013-14).
• UCM has won or shared 24 MIAA regular season championships and five MIAA tournament titles.

THE NEXT LEVEL
• In the past 16 years, 23 former UCM players have gone on to play professional basketball.
• Four players are either currently playing professionally or on a professional roster: Donte Adams (Conejos De Tuxtla (Mexico), Charles Hammork (Kosovo, Ylli Therande), Michael Hicks (Poland, Polpharma-Pakmet), and Zack Wright (Germany, Brose Basket).

ON THE HORIZON
• The Mules trek to Fort Hays State and Nebraska Kearney for a pair of MIAA road games Jan. 6 and 8.