Game 19: Central Missouri (9-9, 6-8 MIAA) vs. Missouri Southern (11-8, 8-5 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 5 | 3 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
Game: 20 Central Missouri vs. Pittsburg State (5-15, 4-10 MIAA)
Monday, Feb. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
TIP-OFF
• University of Central Missouri Mules basketball will look to get back on the winning track when they host a pair of MIAA games at the Multipurpose Building against Missouri Southern Saturday, Feb. 5, and Pittsburg State Monday, Feb. 7.
• UCM is coming off an 89-49 loss against No. 5 Northwest Missouri State, Jan. 29, in Maryville.
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 Northwest Missouri Bearcats made 20 three pointers to lead them to an 89-49 win over the Mules Saturday, Jan. 29, inside Bearcats Arena.
• The Bearcats went a blistering 20-for-35 from downtown, including a 6-of-15 performance in the first-half (40 percent) and a 14-for-20 showing (70 percent) in the second-half. Overall from the field, Northwest Missouri State went 20-of-35 for 57 percent.
•
Trey Sides scored a career-high 18 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and a 5-of-5 performance at the free-throw line, while
Ja'Cor Nelson added eight points, pacing the Mules in the contest.
• Central Missouri shot 43 percent from the floor (20-for-46) and were just 26 percent from three-point range (4-of-15). UCM went a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line.
• Northwest Missouri outrebounded Central Missouri, 26-20, but UCM did outscore the Bearcats in the paint, 28-24, and NWMSU led in bench scoring, 35-15.+
MIAA LEADERS
• Ja' Cor Nelson leads the MIAA in steals through 18 games with 2.2 steals per game and 40 takeaways.
• As a team, Central Missouir 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 Pinkly sits at 937 career points going to the week, just 63 points shy of 1,000.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSOURI SOUTHERN
• Saturday's showdown in Warrensburg against the Lions will mark the 72nd meeting in the all-time series going back to the 1970-71 season. The Mules lead the series, 40-31.
• Last meeting: UCM defeated MSSU in Joplin, Mo, 87-57, Dec. 16, 2021.
SCOUTING MISSOURI SOUTHERN
• The Missouri Southern Lions are 11-8 overall and 8-5 in the MIAA entering the weekend after falling at No. 4 Northwest Missouri Tuesday, 82-71.
• Through 18 contests, the Lions are led by senior forward RJ Smith (17.8 ppg., 8.2 rpg., 10 assists, .636 3FG%, .800 FT%), senior guard Stan Scott (17.1 ppg., 8.2 rpg., 42 assists, 38 steals, 5 blocks, .461 FG%) and sophomore guard Winston Dessesow (12.1 ppg., 2.6 rpg.).
SERIES HISTORY VS. PITTSBURG STATE
• Monday 's game in Warrensburg, will mark the 123rd meeting in the all-time series with the Gorillas dating back to 1925. The Mules lead the series, 75-48.
• Last meeting: Central Missouri claimed an 66-58 win over PSU Dec. 18, 2021, in Pittsburg, Kan.
SCOUTING PITTSBURG STATE
• The Pittsburg State Gorillas come into the week at 5-15 overall and 4-10 in the MIAA after defeating Rogers State Saturday, 88-79.
• Through 20 games, Pittsburg State is paced by graduate forward Bobby Arthur-Williams, Jr. (12.8 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 17 assists, .486 FG%, .308 3FG%, .667 FT%), graduate student guard Iziah James (10.4 ppg., 2.2 rpg., 42 assists) and junior guard Quentin Hardrict (10.1ppg., 2.9 rpg., 21 assists, 4 steals).
MULES AT HOME
• The Mules are 5-6 at home in 2021-22 after winning against Missouri Western Jan. 26.
• 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 Newman Feb. 9 before traveling to Washburn Feb. 12.
