Mules Basketball Continues MIAA Play Hosting Nebraska-Kearney Thursday, FHSU Saturday

Coaches vs Cancer
Game 20: Central Missouri Mules (10-9, 5-5 MIAA) vs Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (6-11, 4-5 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 30 | 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 | Lopers Roster | Nebraska-Kearney Stats | Series History

Mo's Maniacs Day & Mascot Madness
Game 21: Central Missouri Mules (10-9, 5-5 MIAA) vs Fort Hays State Tigers (13-5, 6-3 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 1 | 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 | Tigers Roster | Fort Hays 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 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (6-11, 4-5 MIAA) on Thursday, Jan. 30, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. before taking on the Fort Hays State Tigers (13-5, 6-3 MIAA) Saturday, Feb. 1, beginning at 3:00 p.m. from the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
For the first time since February of 2012, the Mules defeated the Northwest Missouri Bearcats (4-15, 2-8 MIAA) by a final score of 70-53 on Saturday, Jan. 25, inside Bearcat Arena in Maryville.
This is the 119th season of Central Missouri Basketball as the Mules are the third winningest program in Division II with 1,773 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 UCM Athletic Hall of Famer Kim Anderson on the call with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.
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.

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 (10-9, 5-5 MIAA) defeated the Northwest Missouri Bearcats (4-15, 2-8 MIAA) by a final score of 70-53 on Saturday, Jan. 25, inside Bearcat Arena in Maryville.
The Mules opened the contest on a 9-2 run that was capped off by a Kyran Tilley (12 points, game-high seven assists, and two steals overall) steal and layup before leading by 17 at the break en route to their first win over Northwest in Maryville since February of 2012.
On the afternoon, Central Missouri had five players finish in double-figures including a second consecutive double-double from senior Elijah Farr who ended the contest with a game-high 18 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-best five steals in the winning effort.
Forward Josh Nwankwo had 14 points, eight boards, and four steals going 5-of-7 from the field including a perfect 3-of-3 from the charity stripe while Cincinnati, Ohio native DeAirius Barker connected on 3-of-5 attempts from three-point range ending the game with 11 points and senior Jack Chapman had 10 points and five rebounds.
UCM dominated the post as they outscored the Bearcats 44-18 in the paint while outrebounding Northwest 31-17 as freshmen Kyree Polk and Jake Fritz had two points each plus, Dallas, Texas native Tim Jordan Jr. contributed one point.

UCM BY THE NUMBERS

Through 19 contests this season, the Mules are averaging 64.5 points per game while shooting 42.8 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 73 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri is averaging 31.6 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 7.8 steals, and 2.6 blocks per contest so far this season.
The Mules are paced offensively by senior DeAirius Barker who averages 12 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has recorded double-digit scoring in 12 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 114 total rebounds and 15 blocks on the year averaging six boards per contest adding 8.7 points while being the lone player to start all 19 games this season. The senior has recorded back-to-back double-double performances on the year including 18 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high five steals outing against Northwest Missouri (Jan. 25) in a 70-53 victory inside Bearcat Arena marking their first win in Maryville since February of 2012.
Senior Jack Chapman tops the Mules shooting 54.7 percent from the floor going 47-of-86 overall including 7-of-22 from beyond the arc scoring 118 points and grabbing 72 rebounds while recording four double-digit scoring performances highlighted by an 18-point outing against Tabor (Dec. 1).
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 fourth on the team with 165 points averaging 8.7 points per contest adding 56 boards and 17 assists in 19 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 6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while collecting a team-high 33 steals. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native is one of five Mules to appear in all 19 contests in 2024-25 highlighted by a pair of 20-point outings against Emporia State (Jan. 2) and Newman (Jan. 16).
Freshman Jake Fritz has appeared in 16 games this season averaging 5.5 points and 2.3 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 15 games for the Mules averaging 9.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while adding a team-best 41 assists highlighted by 12 double-digit scoring performances including a season and game-high 21 points against Fort Hays State (Dec. 5).

SERIES HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA-KEARNEY

Thursday night's contest inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center will be the 24th all-time meeting between the Lopers and Central Missouri dating back to the 1973-74 season with UCM having a 14-9 advantage.
The Mules won 59-57 earlier this season on Saturday, Dec. 7, inside the Heath & Sports Center in Kearney as the Mules were led by guard Kyran Tilley's game-high 13 points while guards KJ Lee (team-high six boards) and DeAirius Barker added 10 points each for good measure.

SERIES HISTORY VS. FORT HAYS STATE

Saturday afternoon's contest in Warrensburg will be the 36th all-time meeting between the Tigers and Central Missouri dating back to the 1948-49 season with FHSU leading the series 20-15 overall.
Fort Hays State won in double overtime 70-67 over the Mules on Thursday, Dec. 5, inside Gross Memorial Coliseum as UCM was led by Kyran Tilley's 21 points while forward Elijah Farr had 14 points and Cincinnati, Ohio native DeAirius Barker added 10 points.

UP NEXT FOR THE MULES

Central Missouri continues MIAA play on the road against No. 1 Washburn Ichabods (19-0, 10-0 MIAA) Saturday, Feb. 8, with tip-off slated for 3:00 p.m. inside Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan.

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