Box Score JOPLIN, Mo. (Feb. 6, 2021) -
Koray Gilbert led the Mules offense for the third consecutive game in Central Missouri's 86-67 loss to Missouri Southern. The Lions recorded their second-best field goal percentage of the season, shooting 30-54 from the floor for 55.6%.
How it Happened:
• Missouri Southern gained an early advantage over the Mules with 7-0 run to lead 14-7 just five minute after the tip.
• Central Missouri answered with a quick 7-0 run of their own as a
Jalen Blaize three brought the Mules within one point, 17-16, at the 10 minute mark in the first half.
• The Lions outscored the Mules 25-14 in the final 10 minutes before the break, gaining as much as a 16-point lead over UCM. Central Missouri went into the half down by 12 at 42-30.
• Missouri Southern shot lights out in the second half, finishing with 68.2% shooting from the floor and 72.8% from the three in the final 20 minutes. The Lions saw their largest lead over the Mules at 82-55 with just under five minutes left to play.
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Easton Darling's bask-to-back threes in the final minute helped shaved the Lions lead by a few scores as MSSU defeated the Mules 86-67.
• The Lions second-half performance helped MSSU record their second-best field goal percentage of the season at 55.6%. Overall, MSSU finished 30-54 from the field, 14-29 (48.3%) from behind the arc, and 12-17 (70.6%) at the foul line.
• Central Missouri's offense stay consistent throughout each half as the Mules finished with 41.2% shooting before and after the break.
• In total, the Mules went 28-68 from the floor for 41.2%, 9-26 from the three-point range for 34.6%, and shot a season-low four free-throw attempts to finish 2-4 from the line.
• Missouri Southern also dominated the battle at the boards, out rebounded the Mules 34-21.
• The Mules committed five less turnovers than the Lions as UCM totaled 19 points of MSSU's 18 turnovers.
Leading the Mules:
• Gilbert finished 6-11 from the floor, 2-4 from the three, and 1-1 at the foul line to lead the UCM offense with 15.
• Blaize went 4-9 and led the Mules with three three to total 11 points.
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Ja'Cor Nelson tied his season-high five steals while also adding nine points.
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Cameron Hunter recorded the team-high five assists.
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Gaven Pinkley led the defense with six rebounds.
Leading the Lions:
• Missouri Southern's offensive leader Cam Martin led all scorers with 29 points. Martin finished 9-14 with a game-high five threes and a perfect 6-6 trip to the free-throw line. Martin also brought down seven rebounds.
• Stan Scott went 7-12 from the field, 2-4 from the three, and 3-5 at the line to finish with 19. Scott also led the Lions with six assists and two blocks.
• RJ Smith finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.
• Christian Bundy led the Lions defense with nine boards.
News & Notes:
• Martin moved into third-place on the Lion's all-time scoring list with 29 points against the Mules. He now has 1,909 career points at MSSU.
• Pinkley surpassed his 300th career rebound.
• This was Gilbert's third-straight game leading the UCM offense and his sixth double-figure game of the season.
• Central Missouri continues to lead the all-time series over the Lions, 40-31.
Up Next:
Mules basketball will take a six-day game break before hosting No. 17 Washburn next Saturday, Feb. 13th. Tip-off against the Ichabods is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the UCM Multipurpose Building.
