Game 17: Central Missouri (8-8, 5-7 MIAA) vs. Missouri Western (8-10, 4-6 MIAA)
Wednesday, Jan. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats

Game 18: Central Missouri at No. 5 Northwest Missouri State (17-2, 10-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 29 | 3:30 p.m. | Maryville, Mo. (Bearcat Arena)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats

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TIP-OFF
• Central Missouri Mules basketball is scheduled to host the Missouri Western Griffons at the Multipurpose Building at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, before traveling to Maryville, Mo., for a 3:30 p.m. showdown at No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri Saturday, Jan. 29.
• The Mules are coming off a 91-83 loss at Rogers State in overtime Jan. 22 in Claremore, Okla.

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
• Matt Todd and Ja' Cor Nelson each scored 19 points, but it wasn't enough, as the Central Missouri Mules basketball team fell to the Rogers State Hillcats in overtime Saturday, Jan. 22, 91-83.
• Todd scored 19 points on an impressive 6-of-8 shooting performance, including a 5-for-7 showing from three-point range, while Nelson netted his 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting and a 6-of-8 showing at the free-throw line.
• Cameron Hunter (13 points) also reached double figures for the Mules.
• UCM shot 39 percent (23-of-59) from the floor, 37 percent (10-of-27) from beyond-the-arc and were 27-of-34 at the free-throw line (79 percent) for the game.
• The Hillcats (12-6, 6-6 MIAA) outrebounded Central Missouri, 32-23, and edged UCM in points in the paint, 26-24.
• There were a combined 55 fouls called and 71 free throws attempted in the contest.

MIAA LEADERS
• Ja'Cor Nelson leads the MIAA in steals through 17 games with 2.4 steals per game and 38 takeaways.
• As a team, Central Missouri paces the conference in steals with 8.00 steals per game.
• UCM has done a great job of taking care of the basketball this season. It leads the MIAA in turnover margin at +4.44 going into Wednesday evening.

MILESTONE ALERT
• Gaven Pinkley sits at 924 career points going into the week, just 76 points shy of 1,000.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSOURI WESTERN
• Wednesday's game in Warrensburg, will mark the 72nd meeting in the all-time series with the Griffons dating back to 1986. The Mules lead the series, 40-31.
• Last meeting: Missouri Western claimed an 79-65 win over UCM Dec. 11, 2021, in St. Joseph, Mo.

SCOUTING MISSOURI WESTERN
• The Missouri Western Griffons come into Thursday's game at 8-10 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA after falling at Fort Hays State Monday, 76-71. Missouri Western has lost its last five games going into the contest with the Mules Wednesday.
• Through 18 games, Missouri Western is paced by junior guard JaQuaylon Mays (19.4 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 63 assists, .442 FG%, .312 3FG%, .615 FT%), and sophomore forward Will Eames (12.5 ppg., 8.5 rpg., 9 blocks). Mays is third in the MIAA in scoring while Eames is third in rebounding and steals (1.8 per game) through 18 games.
• The Griffons are second in the MIAA in blocks (3.39 per game) and steals (7.50 per game).

SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• Going into Saturday's contest against the Bearcats, the Mules lead the all-time series, 128-98. The first meeting in the series was back in +1952.
• Last meeting: NWMSU defeated UCM in Warrensburg, Mo., 77-53, Dec. 13, 2021.

SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI
• The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are 17-2 overall and 10-1 in the MIAA and ranked fifth in the most recent NABC Division II Poll after winning at Newman Saturday in Wichita, Kan., 82-53.
• Through 19 contests, the Bearcats are led by junior guard Trevor Hudgins (25.3 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 80 assists, 26 steals, .432 3FG%, .920 FT%), sophomore forward Wes Dreamer (13.4 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 27 assists, 15 steals, 6 blocks, .497 FG%, .448 3FG%, .829 FT%) and junior guard Diego Bernard (12.4 ppg., 5.4 rpg.).
• Hudgins is second in the MIAA in scoring and free-throw percentage, third in assists and fourth in three-point field-goal percentage through 19 games. Dreamer is second in the conference from beyond-the arc.
• As a team, the Bearcats are second in the MIAA in scoring offense (80.3 ppg.), scoring defense (63.0 ppg.) three-point field-goal percentage (.405), and first in field-goal percentage (.509) and free-throw percentage (.819).

MULES AT HOME
• The Mules are 4-6 at home in 2021-22 after falling to Central Oklahoma Jan. 13.
• 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).

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 two MIAA home games against Pittsburg State Wednesday, Feb 2, and Missouri Southern Saturday, Feb. 5, in Warrensburg in the Multipurpose Building.