Game 16: Northeastern State RiverHawks (8-5, 5-4) vs Central Missouri Mules (7-8, 3-6)
Thursday, Jan. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
TV: MIAA Network (PPV) | Live Stats | Series History | Game Notes 
 
 
Game 17: Rogers State Hillcats (9-6, 5-4) at Central Missouri Mules (7-8, 3-6)
Saturday, Jan. 14 | 3:00 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
TV: MIAA Network (PPV) | Live Stats | Series History | Game Notes
 
   
TIP OFF

• Central Missouri Mules basketball returns to the Multipurpose Building for a pair of MIAA matchups beginning with Northeastern State on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. and Rogers State on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday's contest against the RiverHawks will be a "White Out" theme.
• All Mule Train members are invited to Traditions Restaurant in Warrensburg for the first Mule Train Postgame Reception of the season at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14.

 
 
ON THE AIR

• Both games will be broadcast 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 fell to No. 20 Emporia State 75-72 on Saturday, Jan. 7, inside White Auditorium in Emporia, Kan.  
• The Hornets had two players finish the contest in double figures including Alijah Comithier (22 points and 10 rebounds) and Owen Long (21 points and three rebounds).
• UCM had five players finish in double figures including redshirt senior Gaven Pinkley who led the Mules with a team-high 18 points, a team-high six rebounds, and three assists.
• Central Missouri also had key contributions from guard Trey Sides (13 points, five rebounds, and two steals), sophomore Jack Chapman (11 points, five rebounds, and a game-high four steals), guard Kobe Campbell (11 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two assists), and redshirt sophomore Mikel Henderson (11 points and four rebounds).

 
 
MULES BY THE NUMBERS

• The Mules come into Thursday's game averaging 69.5 points per game while shooting 41.7 percent from the field, including 32.8 percent from beyond the arc.   
• UCM has two players averaging in double figures in guard Mikel Henderson (13.3 points per game) and redshirt senior Gaven Pinkley (13 points per game).

 
 
 
INDIVIDUAL MILESTONES

• Gaven Pinkley needs 26 points to overtake Gordan McFarland (1959-63) for 10^th (1,262 points) in career scoring.
• Pinkley is currently tied with Ron Nunnelly and Tyrone Lee (1981-85) for most games played in program history (120).

 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS NORTHEASTERN STATE

• Heading into Thursday's matchup with the RiverHawks, the Mules lead the all-time series 7-5 with a perfect 4-0 mark inside the Multipurpose Building.
• UCM and NSU split the season series in 2021-22, with the Mules defeating the RiverHawks 82-78 (1/20/2022) in Talequah while Northeastern State won the 2022 MIAA Tournament first round matchup 60-49 (3/2/2022) inside Municipal Auditorium.
• In the 82-78 victory in Talequah, Gaven Pinkley netted a career-high 34 points while Ja'Cor Nelson added 16 points and Koray Gilbert had 12 points.
• In the 60-49 loss in the 2022 MIAA Tournament, Matt Todd led the Mules with 15 points while Ja'Cor Nelson recorded double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS ROGERS STATE

• This will be the fourth meeting all-time between the Mules and Hillcats with RSU leading the series 2-1.
• The Hillcats won the only meeting between both teams a season ago, with a 91-83 OT victory (1/22/2022).
• Matt Todd and Ja'Cor Nelson led the Mules with 19 points each in the loss in Claremore, Okla. a season ago.

 
 
UP NEXT

• The Mules hit the road for a pair of conference matchups against No. 5 Northwest Missouri (Thursday, Jan. 19) at 7:30 p.m. from Bearcat Arena and Missouri Western (Saturday, Jan. 21) at 3:30 p.m. from MWSU Fieldhouse.