Mules Basketball Scheduled To Play #22 Central Oklahoma Thursday

Game 14: Central Missouri (7-6, 4-5 MIAA) vs. No. 22 Central Oklahoma (13-2, 8-1 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats
Game Notes
MIAA Network (PPV)

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TIP-OFF
• University of Central Missouri Mules basketball returns home to the Multipurpose Building for an MIAA showdown against No. 22 Central Oklahoma Thursday, Jan. 13, at 7:30 p.m.
• UCM is coming off a 77-66 win over Nebraska Kearney Saturday, Jan. 8, in Kearney, Neb.
 
ON THE AIR
• Thursday's game 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 had 16 points to lead Central Missouri Mules basketball to a 77-66 win at Nebraska Kearney Saturday afternoon, Jan. 8, inside the Health and Sports Center.
• Pinkley netted his team-best 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, including a 4-for-8 performance from three-point range, and was one of five Mules to score in double figures in the game.
•  Trey Sides added a season-best 13 points, Matt Todd and Koray Gilbert each had 12 points, and Cameron Hunter tallied 10 points to cap off the Mules in double figures. Hunter paced UCM on the glass with eight rebounds while Ja'Cor Nelson had three steals and three assists.
• UCM shot 46 percent (30-of-65) from the floor, 42 percent (11-of-26) from beyond-the-arc and were 6-of-7 at the free-throw line (86 percent) for the game. Both the Mules and Lopers (5-9, 1-7 MIAA) pulled down 30 rebounds, but Central Missouri outscored Nebraska Kearney in the paint, 30-20, off turnovers, 14-8, and on second-chance opportunities, 14-11.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
• Thursday's game against the Bronchos in Warrensburg will be the 22nd meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 1957-58 season. The Bronchos lead the series, 12-9.
• Last meeting: Central Oklahoma claimed an77-75 win over UCM Feb. 25, 2021, in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
SCOUTING CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
• The Central Oklahoma Bronchos come into Thursday's game at 13-2 overall and 8-1 in the MIAA after defeating Rogers State Saturday, 88-68. UCO is ranked 22nd in the latest NABC Division II poll released Tuesday.
• Through 15 games, Central Oklahoma is paced by senior forward Isaiah Wade (19.2 ppg., 8.7 rpg., 13 assists, .608 FG%, .550 3FG%, .704 FT%), junior forward Camryn Givens (16.1 ppg., 5.9 rpg., 8 blocks) and junior guard Jaden Wells (14.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 26 assists, 19 steals).
• The Bronchos lead the MIAA in scoring offense and rebounding through 15 games, averaging 84.5 points per game and 37.6 rebounds per game. UCO is second in field-goal percentage (.496) and free-throw percentage (.786), and third in three-point field-goal percentage (.376).
 
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 4-5 at home in 2021-22 after falling to Emporia State.
• The Mules are 62-52 at home under Karleskint.
• Central Missouri has posted a 191-38 record at home over the last 14 seasons, including 82-7 against non-conference opponents and 115-31 in MIAA play.
 
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.
• 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 Matt 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 1,721-1,001 (.633) record in 2,722 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 travel on the road for two MIAA games at Northeastern State Jan. 20 and Rogers State Jan. 22.