UCM Mules guard KJ Vasser (3) during a non-conference men’s college basketball game against the Missouri S&T Miners at the UCM Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Missouri on November 18, 2023.
Andrew Mather Photography

Men's Basketball

Mules Basketball Continues MIAA Play Hosting Missouri Southern Thursday Night

Game 8: Missouri Southern Lions (3-7, 1-3) vs Central Missouri Mules (4-3, 0-3)
Thursday, Dec. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Lions Roster | Tickets
 
2023-24 Mules Basketball Game Notes (PDF)
 
TIP OFF 
  • Central Missouri Mules basketball continues MIAA play hosting the Missouri Southern Lions on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg.   
  • The Mules fell 61-52 to the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Saturday, Dec. 9, inside Jason Gymnasium in Jefferson City, Mo.  

SANTA CLAUSE IS COMIN' TO TOWN!
  • Thursday's home contest vs. Missouri Southern will feature special guest Santa and Mrs. Claus! They will be available to visit with kids/fans from halftime of the Jennies game through the end of halftime of the Mules contest.
  • In addition, fans can donate to the local Toys for Tots. Anyone who donates a new, unwrapped toy, or makes at least a $10 donation will receive a token for a free small blizzard from Dairy Queen of Warrensburg.

 ON THE AIR 
  • Thursday night's game will be broadcasted on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler and Kim Anderson on the call.
  • All games will be streamed through the MIAA Network on a pay-per-view basis with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening. 
 
MEET THE MULES
  • Adam Bohac was named the 25th head coach in the 118-year history of Central Missouri Mules basketball in March of 2023 after 15 seasons as head coach of the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm where he had an overall record of 312-146 including 221-98 in GAC play. Bohac's teams have made nine post season appearances including four of the previous six seasons being in the NCAA Tournament. In 2022-23, the Storm reached the Sweet Sixteen and in 2019-20 were a two-seed in the tournament.  
  • The Mules are coming into 2023 with eleven of their 15 student-athletes having never stepped on the court for UCM.
  • Central Missouri returns four players from last year's team including guard Jordan Hayes and forwards Jack Chapman, Ben Fritz, and Yafet Haile.
  • The Mules brought in Division I transfers Caleb Nero (North Dakota) and Keith Kinner III (Niagara).
  • Other transfers include Jalen Knott (Alderson Broaddus), Terrance Broughton (Malone), Raeshaun Ambris (Moberly Area CC), and Josh Nwankwo (New Mexico JC).
  • The Mules added five freshman including guards KJ Vasser, Corey Skillman Jr., and Max Dowling, plus, forwards Noah Martin and Tim Jordan Jr.
 
LAST TIME OUT 
  • The Central Missouri Mules (4-3, 0-3) fell to the Lincoln Blue Tigers (7-1, 2-1) by a final score of 61-52 on Saturday, Dec. 9, inside Jason Gymnasium in Jefferson City.   
  • The Mules led by as many as seven points in the opening half and led by four at the break thanks to eight points by forwards Keith Kiner III (career-high 17 points and game-high eight rebounds overall) and Tim Jordan Jr. (13 points and overall) as UCM outshot Lincoln by a margin of 32-25 percent from the field in the process.
  • The Blue Tigers responded with a 12-0 run in the opening minutes of the second half as they jumped out to 11-point advantage with three minutes remaining as they picked up their seventh win of the year. Lincoln guard DJ Richardson had a game-high 22 points, six rebounds, and four rebounds respectively.
  • Guard Caleb Nero contributed nine points, two rebounds, and two steals while junior Jalen Knott had eight points, two rebounds, and two assists, plus sophomore Terrance Broughton collected a career-best five rebounds and a game-high four assists.
  • The Mules registered five bench points on the afternoon from guard KJ Vasser who went 2-of-6 from the floor connecting once from beyond the arc adding two rebounds.
 
UCM BY THE NUMBERS 
  • Through seven games this season, the Mules are averaging 66.4 points per game while shooting 39.5 percent from the field, including 28.7 percent from beyond the arc and 74.2 percent from the charity stripe.
  • Central Missouri is averaging 36.9 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 4.7 steals, and three blocks per contest.
  • The Mules have four players averaging double figure scoring this season including redshirt senior Caleb Nero (12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per contest), forward Keith Kiner III (11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and one assist per game), freshman Tim Jordan Jr. (11.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per contest), and guard Jalen Knott (10.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and one steal per game).     
 
SERIES HISTORY VS MISSOURI SOUTHERN
  • Thursday's meeting will be the 75th all-time between the Mules and Lions with UCM leading the series 42-32 including a record of 23-11 in Warrensburg.  
  • Last season inside the Multipurpose Building, the Mules defeated Missouri Southern 67-59 (Feb. 4) led by guard Mikel Henderson's game-high 15 while redshirt sophomore Kobe Campbell added 13 points and five rebounds.  
  • Central Missouri also got double digit scoring performances from redshirt junior Trey Sides (12 points and three rebounds) and forward Gaven Pinkley (11 points, three rebounds, and three assists).
 
  UP NEXT
  • Central Missouri returns to the court on Monday, Dec. 18, as they take on the Missouri – St. Louis Tritons with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (CST) in the opening game of the Las Vegas High Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Gaven Pinkley

#23 Gaven Pinkley

F
6' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Trey Sides

#11 Trey Sides

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Kobe Campbell

#1 Kobe Campbell

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Mikel Henderson

#2 Mikel Henderson

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

G/F
6' 7"
Junior
Ben Fritz

#33 Ben Fritz

F
6' 6"
Junior
Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

F
6' 9"
Junior
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

F
6' 7"
Freshman
KJ Vasser

#3 KJ Vasser

G
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gaven Pinkley

#23 Gaven Pinkley

6' 9"
Redshirt Senior
F
Trey Sides

#11 Trey Sides

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
G
Kobe Campbell

#1 Kobe Campbell

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Mikel Henderson

#2 Mikel Henderson

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

6' 7"
Junior
G/F
Ben Fritz

#33 Ben Fritz

6' 6"
Junior
F
Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
G
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

6' 9"
Junior
F
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

6' 7"
Freshman
F
KJ Vasser

#3 KJ Vasser

6' 0"
Freshman
G