Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Men's Basketball 12/4/2024 3:19:00 PM

Mules Basketball Opens MIAA Play Thursday at Fort Hays, UNK Saturday

TIP OFF

Central Missouri Mules basketball begins MIAA play on the road as they take on the Fort Hays State Tigers Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. inside Gross Memorial Coliseum before traveling to Kearney, Neb. for a Saturday, Dec. 7, contest with the Lopers from the Health & Sports Center with tip-off slated for 4:00 p.m.
The Mules defeated the Tabor College Bluejays by a final score of 86-46 on Sunday, Dec. 1, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg led by forward Jack Chapman's game-high 18 points, four rebounds, and two steals.
This is the 119th season of Central Missouri Basketball as the Mules are the third winningest program in Division II with 1,767 victories having won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.

ON THE AIR

Thursday's game against the Tigers will be broadcasted on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Voice of the Mules Greg Hassler on the call.
Both contests will be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night in Hays, Kan. and 4:00 p.m. from the Heath & Sports Center in Kearney, Neb.

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 (4-3, 0-0 MIAA) defeated the Tabor College Bluejays (0-6, 0-0 KCAC) by a final score of 86-46 on Sunday, Dec. 1, from the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
The Bluejays took held a six-point advantage in the opening minutes of the contest until Central Missouri responded with a 9-2 run capped off by a sophomore Tim Jordan Jr. (11 points and six rebounds overall) layup giving the Mules the lead for good as they led by 11 at the break en route to their fourth win of the season.
UCM had six players finish the contest in double figures highlighted by a season-best 18 points, four rebounds, and two steals from Overland Park, Kan. native Jack Chapman who went 7-of-11 from the floor including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Guard KJ Lee had 15 points on the night highlighted by a season-best three triples adding five rebounds, and a season-high three steals while Cincinnati, Ohio native DeAirius Barker contributed 12 points with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals for good measure.
The Mules outscored Tabor College in numerous offensive categories including points off the bench (37-7), off turnovers (31-5), and points in the paint (44-16) as forward Elijah Farr (team-high seven rebounds and two assists overall) and freshman Kyran Tilley (season-high four assists, season-best four assists, and a team-high three blocks overall) ended the night with 11 points each.
Forwards Noah Martin and Kyree Polk collected three rebounds and two points each in the winning effort.

UCM BY THE NUMBERS

Through seven contests this season, the Mules are averaging 69.4 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, including 34.2 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri is averaging 31.4 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 7.6 steals, and 3.1 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 (14.9 points and 2.7 assists) and forward Tim Jordan Jr. (13.6 points and 3.6 rebounds).

SERIES HISTORY VS FORT HAYS STATE

Thursday night's contest will be the 35th meeting all-time between the Tigers and UCM dating back to the 1948-49 season with FHSU leading the series 19-15, including a 13-4 advantage in Hays following last season's 61-51 loss on Jan. 4.
Central Missouri had three players finish the contest in double figures including guard Caleb Nero (game-high 18 points and a team-best five rebounds) and freshman Tim Jordan Jr. (13 points and three rebounds).

SERIES HISTORY VS NEBRASKA-KEARNEY

Saturday's game in Kearney will be the 25th meeting all-time between the Lopers and Central Missouri dating back to the 1973-74 season with the Mules leading the series 13-9 following a 67-58 victory last season in Warrensburg led by forward Keith Kiner III's 19 points and a team-high seven boards wile Tim Jordan Jr. added 17 points and three rebounds for good measure.
Central Missouri enters Saturday's contest with a record of 5-5 inside the Health & Sports Center following 76-73 win last season highlighted by a career-high 32 points from Sparta, Ill. native Keith Kiner III who went 14-of-17 from the floor adding a team-high eight rebounds, a team-best four steals, and three assists in the winning effort.

UP NEXT FOR THE MULES

Central Missouri continues the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, Dec. 17, as they take on the Texas Permian Basin Falcons (4-1, 1-0 LSC) in the opening game of the River City Holiday Classic beginning at 11:00 a.m. inside the Northeast ISD Sports Gym in San Antonio, Texas.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#5 Jordan Hayes: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#0 Caleb Nero: G; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

#20 Keith Kiner III: F; 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior

#10 Jack Chapman: G/F; 6' 7"; Senior

#13 Yafet Haile: F; 6' 9"; Senior

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#21 Noah Martin: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

#22 Josh Nwankwo: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#0 DeAirius Barker: G; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#5 Jordan Hayes
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#0 Caleb Nero
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#20 Keith Kiner III
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#10 Jack Chapman
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G/F

#13 Yafet Haile
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#21 Noah Martin
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#22 Josh Nwankwo
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#0 DeAirius Barker
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G