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University of Central Missouri Athletics

UCM Mules forward Noah Martin (21) during an MIAA men’s college basketball game against the Missouri Western State University (MWSU) Griffons at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg, Missouri on January 11, 2025.
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Men's Basketball

Mules Basketball Continues MIAA Play at Missouri Western Wednesday, Northwest Saturday

Game 18: Central Missouri Mules (9-8, 4-4 MIAA) vs Missouri Western Griffons (12-6, 4-4 MIAA)
Wednesday, Jan. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | St. Joseph, Mo. (MWSU Fieldhouse) 
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Griffons Roster | Missouri Western Stats | Series History
 
  
Game 19: Central Missouri Mules (9-8, 4-4 MIAA) vs Northwest Missouri Bearcats (4-13, 2-6 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 25 | 3:30 p.m. | Maryville, Mo. (Bearcat Arena) 
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Bearcats Roster | Northwest Missouri 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 on the road against the Missouri Western Griffons (12-6, 4-4 MIAA) on Wednesday, Jan. 22, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph before taking on the Northwest Missouri Bearcats (4-13, 2-6 MIAA) on Saturday, Jan. 25, beginning at 3:30 p.m. from Bearcat Arena in Maryville.   
  • The Mules defeated the Emporia State Hornets (4-13, 1-7 MIAA) by a final score of 48-45 on Saturday, Jan. 18, during Military Appreciation Day inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.   
  • This is the 119th season of Central Missouri Basketball as the Mules are the third winningest program in Division II with 1,772 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 Wednesday night from St. Joseph and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon inside Bearcat Arena.
  • Both contests will also be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night inside MWSU Fieldhouse and 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Maryville.
 
 
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 (9-8, 4-4 MIAA) defeated the Emporia State Hornets (4-13, 1-7 MIAA) by a final score of 48-45 on Saturday, Jan. 18, during Military Appreciation Day inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg. 
  • Emporia State led by seven in the opening minute of the second half, but the Mules responded with a 10-0 run highlighted with a pair of triples from guard DeAirius Barker and never relinquished en route to their ninth win of the season.
  • Barker, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, finished the contest with a game-high 17 points adding a team-best eight boards for good measure.
  • Guard Kyran Tilley (two rebounds and two assists) and sophomore Tim Jordan Jr. (team-high eight boards) had 11 points each, while Kansas City, Mo. native contributed four points and two rebounds on the afternoon.
  • Central Missouri held the Hornets to just 28.6 percent from the field and out-rebounded ESU 38-37 as senior Jack Chapman (seven boards and two assists) and forward Josh Nwankwo (three rebounds) collected two points each while New Orleans, La. native Corey Skillman Jr. had two rebounds, two steals, and one point for good measure.
 
  
UCM BY THE NUMBERS 
  • Through 17 contests this season, the Mules are averaging 64.4 points per game while shooting 41.6 percent from the field, including 32.9 percent from beyond the arc and 72.9 percent from the charity stripe.
  • Central Missouri is averaging 31.5 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 7.7 steals, and 2.8 blocks per contest so far this season.
  • The Mules are paced offensively by senior DeAirius Barker who averages 12.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has recorded double-digit scoring in 11 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 92 total rebounds and 15 blocks on the year averaging 5.4 boards per contest adding 7.7 points while being the lone player to start all 17 games this season.
  • Senior Jack Chapman tops the Mules shooting 50.6 percent from the floor going 40-of-79 overall including 6-of-21 from beyond the arc scoring 103 points and grabbing 64 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 4.6 points and 3.3 boards per contest with three double-digit scoring performances on the year including a season-best 17 points against Bemidji State (Nov. 8).
  • Sophomore Tim Jordan Jr. is second on the team with 156 points averaging 9.2 points per contest adding 46 boards and 13 assists in 17 games this season highlighted by nine double-digit outings including a season-high 19 against Maryville (Nov. 13).
  • After being sidelined last season due to injury, forward Josh Nwankwo averages 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game highlighted by a pair of 20-point outings against Emporia State (Jan. 2) and Newman (Jan. 16) while being one of five Mules to appear in all 17 contests in 2024-25.
  • Freshman Jake Fritz has appeared in 14 games this season averaging 5.6 points and 2.5 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 13 games for the Mules averaging 9.3 points and two rebounds per game while adding 32 assists and 21 steals highlighted by 10 double-digit scoring performances including a season and game-high 21 points against Fort Hays State (Dec. 5).   
 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSOURI WESTERN
  • Wednesday evening's contest from MWSU Fieldhouse will be the 78th all-time meeting between the Griffons and Central Missouri dating back to the 1986-87 season with UCM having a 44-33 advantage.  
  • Missouri Western won 59-55 earlier this season on Saturday, Jan. 11, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg as the Mules were led by forward Tim Jordan Jr.'s game-high 18 points and three rebounds while freshman Kyran Tilley added 10 points and five assists for good measure.    
 

SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHWEST MISSOURI
  • Saturday afternoon's contest in Maryville will be the 228th all-time meeting between the Bearcats and Central Missouri dating back to the 1919-20 season with UCM leading the series 123-104 overall. 
  • Northwest won 63-62 over the Mules on Thursday, Jan. 9, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center as UCM was led by Kyran Tilley's 13 points and four rebounds while Cincinnati, Ohio native DeAirius Barker added 12 points.  
 
 
UP NEXT FOR THE MULES
  • Central Missouri continues MIAA play hosting the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (6-9, 4-3 MIAA) Thursday, Jan. 30, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.   

 
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

G/F
6' 7"
Senior
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

F
6' 9"
Senior
Tim Jordan Jr.

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.

F
6' 6"
Sophomore
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Josh Nwankwo

#22 Josh Nwankwo

F
6' 6"
Junior
Corey Skillman Jr.

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
DeAirius Barker

#0 DeAirius Barker

G
6' 0"
Senior
KJ Lee

#3 KJ Lee

G
6' 7"
Senior
Kyran Tilley

#4 Kyran Tilley

G
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
G
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

6' 7"
Senior
G/F
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

6' 9"
Senior
F
Tim Jordan Jr.

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.

6' 6"
Sophomore
F
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Josh Nwankwo

#22 Josh Nwankwo

6' 6"
Junior
F
Corey Skillman Jr.

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
DeAirius Barker

#0 DeAirius Barker

6' 0"
Senior
G
KJ Lee

#3 KJ Lee

6' 7"
Senior
G
Kyran Tilley

#4 Kyran Tilley

6' 1"
Freshman
G