SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Central Missouri Mules (3-2, 0-0 MIAA) defeated the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars (2-2, 0-0 GLVC) by a final score of 72-58 on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the opening game of the DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic from the O'Reilly Event Center in Springfield.         
 
The Mules trailed by nine in the opening minutes of the contest, but thanks to a 12-0 run took a six-point lead thanks to a trio of free throws from guard DeAirius Barker as Central Missouri led by seven at the break and never relinquished picking up their third win of the season.
 
Barker, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio ended the game with a career-high 35 points, going a career-best 10-of-16 from the floor including a career-high 5-of-8 from beyond the arc adding two assists and two steals for good measure.
 
Two additional Mules finished the contest in double figures including forward Tim Jordan Jr. who had 16 points going a career-best 8-of-10 from the charity stripe with a team-high five rebounds and a career-best three assists while Kansas City, Mo. native Elijah Farr added 10 points and a team-high five boards for good measure.
 
Guards KJ Lee (three rebounds and two assists), Jake Fritz (two rebounds), and Kyran Tilley (two rebounds) each contributed three points, plus, senior Yafet Haile had two points and two rebounds and forward Josh Nwankwo grabbed a team-best five rebounds in the winning effort.
 
Central Missouri returns to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 27, as they take on the Drury Panthers (2-1, 0-0 GLVC) at 7:45 p.m. in the final game of the DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic from O'Reilly Event Center in Springfield, Mo.