Road Trip to No. 22 Fort Hays State, Nebraska Kearney Up Next for Mules Basketball

Game 12: Central Missouri (6-5, 3-4 MIAA) at No. 22 Fort Hays State (10-2, 5-2 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Hays, Kan. (Gross Memorial Coliseum)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats

Game 13: Central Missouri at Nebraska Kearney (5-8, 1-6 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 8 | 4 p.m. | Kearney, Neb. (Health & Sports Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Live Stats

---

TIP-OFF
• University of Central Missouri Mules basketball will look to end a two-game losing streak when they travel to Hays, Kan., and Kearney, Neb., for a pair of MIAA road games at Fort Hays State Thursday, Jan. 6, and at Nebraska Kearney Saturday, Jan. 8.
• UCM is coming off a 91-56 loss to Emporia State Monday, Jan. 3, 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 Emporia State Hornets made 19 three pointers to lead them to a 91-59 win over the Central Missouri Mules Monday, Jan. 3, inside the UCM Multipurpose Building.
• The Hornets went a blistering 19-for-34 for downtown, including a 10-of-19 performance in the first-half (53 percent) and a 9-for-15 showing (60 percent) in the second-half. Overall, Emporia State went 31-of-53 for 58 percent.
•  Gaven Pinkley scored 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and a 5-of-7 performance at the free-throw line, while Koray Gilbert added 11 points, pacing the Mules in the contest.
• Central Missouri shot 38 percent from the floor (19-for-50) and were just 15 percent from three-point range (2-of-13). UCM made 19 of 31 free-throw attempts for 61 percent.
• Emporia State outrebounded Central Missouri, 32-30, but UCM did outscore ESU in the paint, 22-20, and led in bench scoring, 29-19.

SERIES HISTORY VS. FORT HAYS STATE
• Thursday's game in Hays, Kan., will mark the 28th meeting in the all-time series with the Tigers dating back to 1948. The Mules lead the series, 15-13.
• Last meeting: Fort Hays State claimed an 84-48 win over UCM Feb. 20, 2021, in Hays, Kan.

SCOUTING FORT HAYS STATE
• The Fort Hays State Tigers come into Thursday's game at 10-2 overall and 5-2 in the MIAA after falling at Rogers State Monday, 58-51. FHSU is ranked 22nd in the latest D2SIDA Division II poll released Tuesday.
• Through 12 games, Fort Hays State is paced by redshirt freshman guard Kaleb Hammeke (15.3 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 35 assists, .507 FG%, .469 3FG%, .750 FT%), senior forward Jared Vitztum (14.9 ppg., 10.5 rpg., 10 blocks) and junior guard Nyjee Wright (10.7 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 32 assists, 11 steals).
• The Tigers lead the MIAA in scoring defense through 12 contests, limiting opponents to 55.9 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA KEARNEY
• Going into Saturday's contest against the Lopers, the all-time series is tied, 8-8. The first meeting in the series was 1973.
• Last meeting: Nebraska Kearney defeated Central Missouri in Kearney, Neb., 74-51, Feb. 18, 2021.

SCOUTING NEBRASKA KEARNEY
• The Nebraska Kearney Lopers are 5-8 overall and 1-8 in the MIAA going entering the week after dropping a 97-90, double overtime decision at Northeastern State Monday.
• Through 13 contests, the Lopers are led by redshirt junior guard David Simental (16.2 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 50 assists, 10 steals, .405 3FG%, .936 FT%), senior guard Darrian Nebeker (14.2 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 57 assists, 14 steals, 8 blocks, .574 FG%, .467 3FG%, .840 FT%) and senior forward Austin Luger (13.2 ppg., 6.2 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 4-4 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 return home to the Multipurpose Building for two home MIAA games against Central Oklahoma Jan. 13 and Newman Jan. 15.