Tigers Handle the Mules in Hays

HAYS, Kan. (Feb. 20, 2021) - Central Missouri Mules basketball suffered a 48-84 loss to Fort Hays State on the road. The Tigers recorded a season-best field goal percentage of 58% while the Mules shot a season-low 30.2%. 

How it Happened:
• Fort Hays State opened with nine unanswered points against the Mules in the first four minutes following the tip.
• A contested layup from Ja'Cor Nelson finally put UCM on the board at the 15:56 mark.
• The Tigers followed Nelson's bucket with another 9-0 run and led the Mules 24-7 through the second media timeout.
• Central Missouri tripled its seven points in the final eight minutes to complete the first half at a 35-21 deficit.
• Fort Hays State shot 56.5% in the first half as they finished 13-23 from the field and 5-11 from the three-point range for 45.5%.
• The Mules hit just 8-27 in the first 20 minutes for 29.6% shooting.
• The Tigers offensive leader Jared Vitztum scored 12 solo points in the first three minutes of the second half.
• Fort Hays State continued to lead the Mules by double-figures throughout the second-half. The Tigers largest advantage over the Mules was a 39 point lead with 1:09 left to play.
• Central Missouri hit eight buckets in each half to finish 16-53 from the floor for a season-low 30.2%. The Mules also shot 5-26 from the three for 19.2% and 11-19 from the free-throw line for 57.9%.
• Overall, FHSU finished 29-50 from the floor for a season-high field goal percentage of 58%. The Tigers also went 9-20 from behind the arc for 45% and 17-22 from the line for 77.3%.
• The Tigers also dominated the rebounding battle totaling 33 boards to the Mules 16.  

Leading the Mules:
• Koray Gilbert went 4-12 from the floor and a perfect 4-4 at the line to lead UCM with 12 points.  
• Ja'Cor Nelson led the UCM defense with four rebounds and two steals.

Leading the Tigers:
• Jared Vitztum didn't miss from the field against the Mules. The senior forward finished 9-9 on the floor, 3-3 from the three, and 2-3 at the line for the game-high 23 points.
• Vitzum also tied with Gilbert Peters for the game-high eight rebounds.
• Kaleb Hammeke and Bjarni Jonsson each finished with 12 while Hammeke also led FHSU with six assists.

News & Notes: 
• The Mules 16 field goal attempts ties for the team's lowest of the season while their 48 total points is the second-lowest of the season. 
• Fort Hays State's 20 assists tied for Tigers third-most this season. 
• Central Missouri continues to lead the all-time series against the Tigers, 15-13.

Up Next:
Mules Basketball will host its final games of the 2020-21 regular season at home next week. Central Missouri will first face Central Oklahoma on Thursday, Feb. 25th at 7:30 p.m. in the UCM Multipurpose Building.