Road Trip to Northeastern State, Rogers State Next for Mules Basketball

Game 15: Central Missouri (7-7, 4-6 MIAA) at Northeastern State (8-8, 3-7 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. (NSU Event Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats

Game 16: Central Missouri at Rogers State (10-6, 4-6 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 22 | 3:30 p.m. | Claremore, Okla. (Claremore Expo Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats

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TIP-OFF
• University of Central Missouri Mules basketball will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Tahlequah, Okla., and Claremore, Okla., for a pair of MIAA road games at Northeastern State and Rogers State Jan. 20 and 22.
• UCM is coming off an 82-60 loss against #22 Central Oklahoma Jan. 13 in Warrensburg.
 
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
• The Central Oklahoma Bronchos made 12 three pointers to lead them to an 82-60 win over the Central Missouri Mules Thursday, Jan. 13, inside the Multipurpose Building.
• The Bronchos went a blistering 12-for-22 for downtown, including a 3-of-8 performance in the first-half (38 percent) and a 9-for-14 showing (64 percent) in the second-half. Overall from the field, Central Oklahoma went 31-of-55 for 56 percent.
•  Ja' Cor Nelson scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting and a 4-of-4 performance at the free-throw line, and pulled down six rebounds, while Koray Gilbert added 12 points and Mark Mayle netted 11 points, pacing the Mules in the contest.
• Central Missouri shot 34 percent from the floor (19-for-55) and were just 16 percent from three-point range (11-of-26). UCM did go an impressive 19-for-19 at the free-throw line.
• UCO outrebounded Central Missouri, 36-25, and outscored the Mules in the paint, 26-20.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHEASTERN STATE
• Thursday's game in Tahlequah will mark the 11th meeting in the all-time series with the RiverHawks dating back to 1957. The Riverhawks lead the series, 6-4.
• Last meeting: Central Missouri claimed an 89-82 win over NSU Jan. 21, 2021, in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN STATE
• The Northeastern State RiverHawks come into Thursday's game at 8-8 overall and 3-7 in the MIAA after a loss against Missouri Southern Tuesday, Jan. 18, 72-71.
• Through 16 games, Northeastern State is paced by graduate student forward Emeka Obukwelu (16.8 ppg., 9.3 rpg., 1.8 assists, .538 FG%, .811 FT%), sophomore guard Christian Cook (16.4 ppg., 1.9 rpg., 5 blocks) and sophomore guard Dillon Bailey (6.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 44 assists, 13 steals).
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. ROGERS STATE
• The Mules and Hillcats will meet for just the third time in the all-time series that dates back to 2019 on Saturday in Claremore. The series is tied, 1-1.
• Last meeting: UCM defeated Rogers State in Warrensburg, Mo., 77-64, Jan. 23, 2021.
 
SCOUTING ROGERS STATE
• The Rogers State Hillcats are 10-6 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA entering the week after falling at Central Oklahoma Jan. 8, 88-68.
• Through 16 contests, the Hillcats are led by senior guard Devin Pullum (16.6 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 42 assists, .478 3FG%, .800 FT%), junior center Joey Saracco (10.3 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 10 assists, 6 steals, 14 blocks, .618 FG%, .667 FT%) and senior guard/forward Brewster Peacock (9.6 ppg., 3.1 rpg.).
 
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 4-6 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 host Missouri Western on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Multipurpose Building.