Mules Basketball Continues MIAA Play Hosting Northwest Thursday, Western Saturday on 38 The Spot

First Responders Night
Game 14: Northwest Missouri Bearcats (3-10, 1-3 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Mules (7-6, 2-2 MIAA)
Thursday, Jan. 9 | 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 | Bearcats Roster | Northwest Missouri Season Stats | Series History

"We Back Pat" Day
Game 15: Missouri Western Griffons (10-4, 2-2 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Mules (7-6, 2-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 11 | 1:10 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
TV: KMCI-TV "38 The Spot" (Carter Woodiel & Brad Hadank - only available in Kansas City)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Griffons Roster | Missouri Western 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 Northwest Missouri Bearcats (3-10, 1-3 MIAA) on Thursday, Jan. 9, for First Responders Night with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. before taking on the Missouri Western Griffons (10-4, 2-2 MIAA) for "We Back Pat" Day on Saturday, Jan. 11, beginning at 1:10 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
The Mules defeated the Emporia State Hornets (4-9, 1-3 MIAA) by a final score of 72-69 on Thursday, Jan. 2, inside White Auditorium in Emporia, Kan.
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 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night and 12:30 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 1:10 p.m. Saturday inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
Saturday's game against the Griffons will be featured on Kansas City's KMCI-TV "38 The Spot" with Carter Woodiel & Brad Hadank on the call with coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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 (7-6, 2-2 MIAA) defeated the Emporia State Hornets (4-8, 1-2 MIAA) by a final score of 72-69 on Thursday, Jan. 2, inside White Auditorium in Emporia, Kan.
The Mules led by three at the break highlighted by Oklahoma City, Okla. native Josh Nwankwo's (season-high 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals overall) 10 points, going 4-of-7 from the field including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc adding two rebounds for good measure.
Nwankwo opened the scoring in the second half as UCM led by as many as 14, but the Hornets rallied late cutting the deficit to one, but thanks to a pair of free throws from guard Jake Fritz (four points overall) with four seconds remaining the Mules hold on for the victory making it their first in Emporia since January of 2018.
Three players for Central Missouri scored in double-figures including senior DeAirius Barker (13 points and four rebounds) and Louisville, Ky. native Kyran Tilley (12 points, season-high six rebounds, and three assists) en route to their seventh win of the season.
The Mules outscored ESU in numerous offensive categories including points in the paint (14-8), bench points (9-3), and in second chance (8-2) led by forward Kyree Polk's season-best four points and season-high four boards while senior KJ Lee (four rebounds) and guard Corey Skillman Jr. (three rebounds) added three points each.
Central Missouri out-rebounded the Hornets by a margin of 41-33 on the night thanks to a team-high six boards from Kansas City, Mo. native Elijah Farr who added seven points, a career-best three blocks, and three assists while forward Jack Chapman (six points) grabbed four rebounds and sophomore Tim Jordan Jr. collected three boards.

UCM BY THE NUMBERS

Through 13 contests this season, the Mules are averaging 65.3 points per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field, including 33.2 percent from beyond the arc and 73 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri is averaging 30.7 rebounds, 10.6 assists, eight steals, and 2.8 blocks per contest so far this season.
The Mules are paced offensively by senior DeAirius Barker who averages 12.2 points, two assists, and two rebounds per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has recorded double-digit scoring in eight 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 77 total rebounds and 14 blocks on the year averaging 5.9 boards per contest adding 8.7 points and 1.6 assists while being the lone player to start all 13 games this season.
Senior Jack Chapman tops the Mules shooting 53.1 percent from the floor going 34-of-64 overall including 6-of-17 from beyond the arc scoring 89 points and grabbing 47 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 5.7 points and 3.8 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 13 games.
Sophomore Tim Jordan Jr. is second on the team with 116 points averaging 8.9 points per contest adding 37 boards and eight assists in 13 games this season highlighted by six double-digit outings including a season-high 19 against Maryville (Nov. 13).
After being sidelined last season due to injury, forward Josh Nwankwo averages 5.2 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 13 contests in 2024-25.
Freshman Jake Fritz has appeared in 10 games this season averaging 7.1 points, 2.9 boards, and one assist 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 nine games for the Mules averaging 8.5 points and two rebounds per game while adding 16 assists and 16 steals highlighted by five double-digit scoring performances including a season and game-high 21 points against Fort Hays State (Dec. 5).

SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHWEST MISSOURI

Thursday evening's contest will be the 127th all-time meeting between the Bearcats and Central Missouri dating back to the 1919-20 season with UCM having a 70-38 advantage in Warrensburg.
In their lone meeting last season, No. 21 Northwest Missouri defeated the Mules 76-54 on Thursday, Jan. 25 inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSOURI WESTERN

Saturday afternoon's contest will be the 77th all-time meeting between the Griffons and Central Missouri dating back to the 1986-87 season with UCM leading the series 44-32 overall including a mark of 27-8 in Warrensburg.
In their only meeting last season in Warrensburg, the Mules defeated No. 22 Missouri Western 68-60 on Wednesday, Feb. 21, highlighted by three double-digit scoring performances from Central Missouri.

UP NEXT FOR THE MULES

Central Missouri continues conference play on Thursday, Jan. 16, as they host the Newnan Jets (9-4, 2-2 MIAA) with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.

Print Friendly Version