Mules Basketball Hosts No. 2 Washburn During Hoops for the Holidays, Saturday

Hoops for the Holidays
Game 12: No. 2 Washburn Ichabods (11-0, 2-0 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Mules (6-5, 1-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Dec. 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Ichabods Roster | Washburn Season Stats | Series History

UCM Men's Basketball Game Notes (PDF) | 2024-25 Mules Basketball Roster | 2024-25 Mules Basketball Season Stats | MIAA Men's Basketball

TIP OFF

Central Missouri Mules basketball continues the 2024-25 season as they host No. 2 Washburn Ichabods (11-0, 2-0 MIAA) on Saturday, Dec. 21, during "Hoops for the Holidays" with tip-off slated for 3:00 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
The Mules split a pair of games in the River City Holiday Classic falling to Texas Permian Basin 83-60 (Tuesday, Dec. 17) before defeating No. 9 North Georgia 53-52 (Wednesday, Dec. 18) inside the Northeast ISD Sports Gym in San Antonio, Texas.
Wednesday's victory over the Nighthawks was UCM's first win over a top 10 opponent since January of 2020 when the Mules defeated No. 10 Missouri Southern 54-52 in Warrensburg.
This is the 119th season of Central Missouri Basketball as the Mules are the third winningest program in Division II with 1,769 victories having won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.

IT'S HOOPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS ON SATURDAY!

Saturday's contest is Hoops for the Holidays! Santa will make an appearance from halftime of the Jennies game until halftime of the Mules contest. In addition, there will be other, holiday-themed entertainment during the MIAA doubleheader.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's game will be broadcasted on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Voice of the Mules Greg Hassler and former Mules Basketball Head Coach Kim Anderson on the call.
The contest will also be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 3:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg

MEET THE MULES

Adam Bohac enters his second season as head coach of the Mules after finishing last season with a 13-15 overall record including 8-14 in the MIAA highlighted by two All-Conference performers in Tim Jordan Jr. (Honorable Mention) and Jordan Hayes (All Defensive Team).
The Mules are coming into the 2024-25 campaign with seven of their 14 student-athletes having never stepped on the court for UCM.
Central Missouri returns six players from last year's team including guard Corey Skillman Jr. while returning forwards Tim Jordan Jr., Jack Chapman, Yafet Haile, Noah Martin, and Josh Nwankwo.
The Mules brought in Division I transfer KJ Lee (Western Illinois), plus, Division II additions in DeAirius Barker (Charleston), Eain Mowat (Southern Nazarene), and Elijah Farr (Lincoln).
Central Missouri added three freshmen in guards Kyran Tilley (Louisville, Ky.) and Jake Fritz (Overland Park, Kan.), plus, forward Kyree Polk (Denver, Colo.).

LAST TIME OUT

The Central Missouri Mules (6-5, 1-1 MIAA) defeated to No. 9 North Georgia Nighthawks (9-3, 1-0 PBC) by a final score of 53-52 in the final day of the River City Holiday Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 18, inside the Northeast ISD Sports Gym in San Antonio.
The Mules opened play on an 11-3 run highlighted by a triple from sophomore Corey Skillman Jr. (three points and two rebounds overall) off an assist from Kansas City, Mo. native Elijah Farr (eight points, five rebounds, and three assists overall), but trailed by one at the break.
Central Missouri responded in the second half going on a 15-4 run taking a 10-point advantage with 15 minutes to go, but the Nighthawks found themselves trailing by one as they called a timeout with 15 seconds remaining and the ball.
Central Missouri withstood the final UNG offensive possession forcing a long-range three-point attempt earning their sixth win of the season marking the first win over a top 10 ranked opponent since Jan. 18 of 2020.
Junior Josh Nwankwo led the Mules with a game and season-high 17 points going 6-of-12 from the floor including a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe adding a team-best seven boards for good measure.
Guard DeAirius Barker contributed nine points and a season-high four steals while senior Jack Chapman added eight points and seven rebounds as the Mules outscored North Georgia 30-22 in the paint and 11-2 on the fast break.
Overland Park, Kan. native Jake Fritz had six points, three assists, and two rebounds while forward Yafet Haile had two points on the afternoon.

UCM BY THE NUMBERS

Through 11 contests this season, the Mules are averaging 65.9 points per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 75.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri is averaging 30.4 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 8.4 steals, and three blocks per contest so far this season.
The Mules feature two players averaging 10 points or more per game this season including senior DeAirius Barker (12.8 points, two assists, and 2.1 rebounds) and forward Tim Jordan Jr. (10 points and 2.8 rebounds).

SERIES HISTORY VS. NO. 2 WASHBURN

Saturday afternoon's contest will be the 109th all-time meeting between the Ichabods and Central Missouri dating back to the 1911-12 season with the Mules holding a 29-19 record in Warrensburg.
Both teams split the season series a year ago as Central Missouri won in Warrensburg by a final score of 82-71 on Wednesday, Jan. 10, as five Mules finished the game in double-figures including a career-high 17 points from guard Corey Skillman Jr.

UP NEXT FOR THE MULES

Central Missouri continues MIAA play on Thursday, Jan. 2, as they take on the Emporia State Hornets (4-6, 1-1 MIAA) beginning at 7:30 p.m. inside White Auditorium in Emporia, Kan.

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