Mules Basketball Continues MIAA Play Hosting Tigers and Lopers

TIP OFF

Central Missouri Mules basketball continues conference play hosting the Fort Hays State Tigers on Saturday (Dec. 31, 3:00 p.m.) and the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers on Monday (Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m.) inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.

ON THE AIR

Both games will be live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar, the new 107.9 FM and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler and Kim Anderson calling the action.
The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's Blueframe Internet portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules. It is a pay-to-view webcast. MIAA Network content is available live via DVR and is immediately archived for on-demand viewing after each event.

LAST TIME OUT

The Mules defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas by a final score of 64-62 on Saturday, Dec. 17, inside John Lance Arena in Pittsburg, Kan.
UCM had three players finish the contest in double figures including guard Mikel Henderson (team-high 14 points), redshirt sophomore Kobe Campbell (12 points and six rebounds), and Jack Chapman (12 points and two rebounds).
The Gorillas led by as many as 17 points in the first half, but held a 36-31 advantage at halftime.
Beginning the second half on a 14-2 run, Central Missouri was able to complete the comeback as Chapman made the game winning put-back floater with one second remaining in regulation.
UCM had advantages in many statistical categories including points in the paint (36-24), bench points (28-18), points off turnovers (23-8), and rebounds (37-35).

MULES BY THE NUMBERS

The Mules come into Saturday's game averaging 74.1 points per game while shooting 43.7 percent from the field, including 34.9 percent from beyond the arc.
UCM has three players averaging in double figures this season including guard Mikel Henderson (14.3 points per game), redshirt senior Gaven Pinkley (13.3 points per game), and guard Kobe Campbell (10.0 points per game).
The Mules are 29-59 overall and 23-51 in MIAA play on the road under Doug Karleskint.

INDIVIDUAL MILESTONES

Gaven Pinkley needs 22 points to overtake Michael Hicks for 14^th (1,210 points) in career scoring.

SERIES HISTORY VS FORT HAYS STATE

Entering Saturday's contest, the overall series is tied at 15 wins each, with the Mules having a 9-5 advantage inside the Multipurpose Building.
The Tigers have won three straight contests over the Mules including a 61-54 victory (Feb. 19, 2022) in Warrensburg.
UCM's Koray Gilbert scored a season-high 15 points while adding six rebounds in the loss to the 22^nd ranked Tigers who were led by Jared Vitztum and Nyjee Wright's 12 points.
Fort Hays State shot 48.9 percent from the floor while holding the Mules to just 39.6 percent and had a 35-25 advantage in rebounds.

SERIES HISTORY VS NEBRASKA-KEARNEY

Entering Monday's contest, the Mules hold a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series including a 5-4 record inside the Multipurpose Building.
The Mules won 78-76 (Feb. 17, 2022) in overtime over the Lopers inside the Multipurpose Building as UCM won both matchups last season.
Ja'Cor Nelson led the Mules by recording his seventh double-double of the year (23 points and 11 rebounds).
Cameron Hunter added 17 points while Gaven Pinkley (16 points) surpassed 1,000 career points for the Mules in the victory.

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