Game 23: Central Missouri (11-11, 8-10 MIAA) vs. Nebraska Kearney (10-14, 6-12 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Game: 24 Central Missouri vs. Fort Hays State (19-4, 14-4 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 19 | 3:00 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
TIP-OFF
• Central Missouri Mules basketball is scheduled to wrap up its 2021-22 regular season home schedule with a pair of MIAA games vs. Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State Feb. 17 and 19 at the Multipurpose Building. The Mules will face the Lopers of Nebraska Kearney Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. before taking on the Fort Hays State Tigers for Senior Day and Hall of Fame Day Saturday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m.
• UCM is coming off an 85-74 loss at Washburn Saturday, Feb. 12, in Topeka, Kan.
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
• Washburn's Tyler Geiman put up 22 points shooting 7-of-14 from the field to lead the Ichabods to an 85-74 win over Central Missouri Mules basketball in Lee Arena on Saturday, Feb. 12.
• Redshirt senior guard
Ja'Cor Nelson netted 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting and a 5-for-8 showing at the free-throw line and pulled down 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season while
Gaven Pinkley added 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting, leading Central Missouri.
• UCM shot 41 percent from the floor (23-for-56) but was only 24 percent from three-point range (5-of-21) and 72 percent at the free-throw line (23-of-32) in the game.
• The Mules were outrebounded by Washburn, 38-30.
MIAA LEADERS
•
Ja'Cor Nelson leads the MIAA in steals through 22 games with 2.4 steals per game and 52 takeaways.
• As a team, Central Missouri paces the conference in steals with 7.94 steals per game.
• UCM has done a great job of taking care of the basketball this season. It is second in the MIAA in turnover margin at +3.72 going into Thursday evening.
MILESTONE ALERT
•
Gaven Pinkley sits at 985 career points going into the week, just 15 points shy out of 1,000.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA KEARNEY
• Thursday's game in Warrensburg, will mark the 18th meeting in the all-time series with the Lopers dating back to 1973. The Mules lead the series, 9-8.
• Last meeting: Central Missouri claimed an 77-66 win over UNK Jan. 8, 2022, in Kearney, Neb.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA KEARNEY
• The Nebraska Kearney Lopers come into Thursday's game at 10-14 overall and 6-12 in the MIAA after defeating Rogers State Saturday, 68-58.
• Through 24 games, the Lopers are paced by redshirt junior guard David Simental (17.3 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 3.1 assists, .447 FG%, .398 3FG%, .860 FT%), senior forward Darrian Nebeker (13.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 15 blocks) and senior forward Austin Luger (10.9 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 1.5 assists, 9 steals).
SERIES HISTORY VS. FORT HAYS STATE
• Going into Saturday's contest against the Tigers, the Mules lead the all-time series, 16-13. The first meeting in the series was 1948.
• Last meeting: FHSU defeated UCM in Hays, Kan., 64-59, Jan. 6, 2022.
SCOUTING FORT HAYS STATE
• The Fort Hays State Tigers are 19-4 overall and 14-4 in the MIAA entering the week after winning a 75-66 decision at Northeastern State Saturday. FHSU is ranked 22nd in the lastest NABC-II Coaches' Poll.
• Through 23 contests, the Tigers are led by senior forward Jared Vitztum (15.3 ppg., 9.9 rpg., 43 assists, 16 steals, .457FG%, .722 FT%), redshirt freshman guard Kaleb Hammeke (14.6 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 77 assists, 24 steals, .489 FG%, .446 3FG%, .750 FT%) and junior guard Nyjee Wright (11.3 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 7-6 at home in 2021-22 after winning against Newman.
• 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 wrap up their 2021-22 regular season with road games at Central Oklahoma Feb. 23 and Lincoln Feb. 26.
