Mules Dominate Lincoln in Season Finale

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 27, 2021) - Central Missouri honored its seniors and capped the 2020-21 season on a high note with an 81-62 victory over Lincoln. Five Mules finished in double-figures, led by senior guard Dillon Blain with a career-high 18 points.

How it Happened:
• It was a slow offensive start for both the Blue Tigers and Mules as they went a combined 0-6 from the field in the first two minutes following the tip. 
• The first half was mostly a back and fourth battle with the score at a draw four different times. 
• A three-pointer by Dillon Blain at the 7:13 mark would give UCM its final lead which they would carry throughout the first half and the entirety of the second.  
• Will four minutes left in the first, a Gaven Pinkley three sparked a UCM 8-0 run for the Mules to see a 12-point lead over Lincoln at the half, 36-24. 
• The Blue Tigers hit just 8-23 (34.8%) from the field and 1-7 (14.3%) at the three-point range in the first half while UCM went 14-32 (43.8%) from the floor and 5-17 (29.4%) from the three. 
• Cameron Hunter and Pinkley opened the second half with back-to-back three's, both assisting the other. 
• Central Missouri led Lincoln by double figures for the final 19 minutes. 
• A Blain followed by a Ja'Cor Nelson steal and dunk gave the Mules their largest lead over the Blue Tigers at a 72-51 advantage with five minutes left on the clock. 
• Senior Blain poetically scored the first and final basket of the game as the Mules defeated Lincoln 81-62. 
• Five Mules finished in double-figure scoring as UCM finished with 45% (27-60) shooting from the field, 36.7% (11-30) shooting from the three, and 84.2% (16-19) at the free-throw line. 
• The Blue Tigers ended 20-50 from the floor for 40%, 5-19 from the three for 26.3%, and 17-27 from the line for 63%.  
• The Mules also had the advantage in the rebounding battle, totaling 36 boards to Lincoln's 33.
• Central Missouri recorded a season-high 14 steals as the Blue Tigers committed a season-high 20 turnovers. The Mules scored 31 points solely off Lincoln's mistakes.   

Leading the Mules:
• Dillon Blain finished 7-12 from the field and tied the team-high four threes for a career-high 18 points. The senior guard also recorded five rebounds and two steals. 
• Gaven Pinkley also knocked down four threes on seven attempts and went 3-4 at the foul line to finish with 15. 
• Koray Gilbert finished with 12 points. The senior guard was one rebound away from a double-double as he led the Mules at the boards with nine.
• Cameron Hunter led UCM with six assists while totaling 12 points. 
• Ja'Cor Nelson also finished with 12 points and led the Mules with four steals. 

Leading the Blue Tigers:
• Sai Witt tied with Blain for the game-high 18 points. Witt also shared Lincoln's team-high six rebounds. 
• Yaniel Vidal hit the game-high five threes and finished with 16.
• Cameron Potts and Quinton Drayton also recorded six rebounds while Potts led Lincoln with four assists.   

News & Notes: 
• Koray Gilbert has scored in double-figures in the Mules last seven games. 
• Dillon Blain played a career-high 34 minutes, with a career-high seven field goals and four threes.   
• Senior Drew Apsher earned his first career start and played a season-high six minutes against the Blue Tigers
• Lincoln's 62 points is the Blue Tigers second-lowest point total on the season. 

Central Missouri's win over Lincoln concludes the 2020-21 season. The Mules went 7-15 competing only against MIAA competitors.