Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Men's Basketball 1/15/2025 11:36:00 AM

Mules Basketball Continues MIAA Play Hosting Newman Thursday, Emporia State Saturday

Faculty & Staff Night
Game 16: Newman Jets (10-5, 3-3 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Mules (7-8, 2-4 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Jets Roster | Newman Stats | Series History

Military Appreciation Day
Game 17: Emporia State Hornets (4-11, 1-5 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Mules (7-8, 2-4 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 18 | 3:30 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Hornets Roster | Emporia State 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 conference play hosting the Newman Jets (10-5, 3-3 MIAA) on Thursday, Jan. 16, for Faculty & Staff Night with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. before taking on the Emporia State Hornets (4-11, 1-5 MIAA) for Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, Jan. 18, beginning at 3:30 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
The Mules fell to the Missouri Western Griffons (11-5, 3-3 MIAA) by a final score of 59-55 on Saturday, Jan. 11, in Warrensburg.
This is the 119th season of Central Missouri Basketball as the Mules are the third winningest program in Division II with 1,770 victories having won two NCAA Men's National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four National Championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.

ON THE AIR

Both games 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 with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Both contests will also be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night and 3:30 p.m. Saturday 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

University of Central Missouri Mules basketball fell to the Missouri Western Griffons, 59-55, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11, in a MIAA contest inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.
The Mules (7-8, 2-4 MIAA) are scheduled to host the Newman Jets (9-5, 2-3 MIAA) Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Warrensburg.
Tim Jordan Jr. scored a game-high 18 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field and a 6-of-6 performance at the free-throw line while Kyran Tilley added 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting to go along with five assists, and Josh Nwankwo, Elijah Farr and Noah Martin all had four rebounds, leading the Mules in the contest.
Central Missouri shot 47 percent from the field (21-of-45), 33 percent from three-point range (7-of-21) and were 6-of-10 at the free-throw line for 60 percent.
Missouri Western (11-5, 3-3 MIAA) outrebounded UCM, 29-27, and outscored the Mules in the paint, 28-24, and off turnovers, 14-5.
Justin Bubak (14 points) and Zane Nelson (13 points) paced the Griffons in the game.

UCM BY THE NUMBERS

Through 15 contests this season, the Mules are averaging 64.4 points per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field, including 32.4 percent from beyond the arc and 73.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri is averaging 30.5 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 7.9 steals, and 2.7 blocks per contest so far this season.
The Mules are paced offensively by senior DeAirius Barker who averages 11.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has recorded double-digit scoring in nine games this season including a career-high 35 against Illinois-Springfield (Nov. 26) going 10-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-8 from behind the arc.
Kansas City, Mo. native Elijah Farr leads Central Missouri with 85 total rebounds and 14 blocks on the year averaging 5.7 boards per contest adding 8.3 points and 1.6 assists while being the lone player to start all 15 games this season.
Senior Jack Chapman tops the Mules shooting 52.9 percent from the floor going 37-of-70 overall including 6-of-18 from beyond the arc scoring 95 points and grabbing 52 rebounds while recording three double-digit scoring performances highlighted by an 18-point outing against Tabor (Dec. 1) in 13 games.
O'Fallon, Mo. native KJ Lee averages 4.9 points and 3.5 boards per contest with three double-digit scoring performances on the year including a season-best 17 points against Bemidji State (Nov. 8) as one of six players to appear in all 15 games.
Sophomore Tim Jordan Jr. is second on the team with 135 points averaging nine points per contest adding 41 boards and 10 assists in 15 games this season highlighted by seven double-digit outings including a season-high 19 against Maryville (Nov. 13).
After being sidelined last season due to injury, forward Josh Nwankwo averages 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game highlighted by a team and season-best 17 points and seven rebounds in the 53-52 victory over No. 9 North Georgia (Dec. 18) while being one of six Mules to appear in all 15 contests in 2024-25.
Freshman Jake Fritz has appeared in 12 games this season averaging 6.3 points and 2.6 boards per contest while scoring double-figures in five games including a season-best 13 against Texas Permian Basin (Dec. 17).
Louisville, Ky. native Kyran Tilley has started 11 games for the Mules averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while adding 22 assists and 19 steals highlighted by eight double-digit scoring performances including a season and game-high 21 points against Fort Hays State (Dec. 5).

SERIES HISTORY VS. NEWMAN

Thursday evening's contest will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Jets and Central Missouri dating back to the 2017-18 season with UCM having a 4-2 advantage.
In their lone meeting last season, Newman defeated the Mules 59-58 on Saturday, Dec. 25 inside Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita, Kan.

SERIES HISTORY VS. EMPORIA STATE

Saturday afternoon's contest will be the 121st all-time meeting between the Hornets and Central Missouri dating back to the 1906-07 season with UCM leading the series 74-46 overall including a mark of 50-17 in Warrensburg.
Both teams won the home meeting a season ago with the Mules coming away with a 60-53 victory on Saturday, Jan. 13, as four players finished in double figures for UCM.

UP NEXT FOR THE MULES

Central Missouri continues MIAA play on the road beginning Thursday, Jan. 22, against the Missouri Western Griffons (11-5-4, 3-3 MIAA) with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.

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Players Mentioned

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

#3 KJ Lee: G; 6' 7"; Senior

#4 Kyran Tilley: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#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

#3 KJ Lee
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G

#4 Kyran Tilley
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G