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University of Central Missouri Athletics

DC leading team out of tunnel vs Upper Iowa
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Men's Basketball

RV Mules Basketball Begins Week at River City Holiday Classic, Host Maryville Sunday

River City Holiday Classic Game 1
Game 13: RV Central Missouri Mules (9-3, 2-1 MIAA) vs No. 8 West Texas A&M Buffs (10-0, 3-0 LSC)
Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 1:00 p.m. | San Antonio, Texas (Bill Greehey Arena)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Buffs Roster | West Texas A&M 2025-26 Season Stats
 
River City Holiday Classic Game 2
Game 14: RV Central Missouri Mules (9-3, 2-1 MIAA) vs No. 4 Lubbock Christian Chaparrals (9-1, 3-1 LSC)
Wednesday, Dec. 17 | 11:00 a.m. | San Antonio, Texas (Bill Greehey Arena)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Chaparrals Roster | Lubbock Christian 2025-26 Season Stats
 
Hoops for the Holidays / Kyran Tilley Meet & Greet
Game 15: Maryville Saints (1-8, 0-4 GLVC) vs RV Central Missouri Mules (9-3, 2-1 MIAA)
Sunday, Dec. 21 | 1:00 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Saints Roster | Maryville 2025-26 Season Stats | Series History
 
2025-26 Mules Basketball Game Notes (PDF) | 2025-26 Mules Basketball Roster | 2025-26 Central Missouri Basketball Season Stats | NABC Top 25 Poll
 
 
TIP OFF
  • The (Receiving Votes) Central Missouri Mules continue the 120th season of play with a trio of games, beginning Tuesday, Dec. 16, in the opening day of the River City Holiday Classic as they take on No. 8 West Texas A&M (1:00 p.m.), followed by a matchup with No. 4 Lubbock Christian (11:00 a.m.) on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary's College in San Antonio, Texas.
  • The Mules conclude the week with a non-conference game against the Maryville Saints on Sunday, Dec. 21, beginning at 1:00 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg on Hoops for the Holidays / Kyran Tilley Meet & Greet Day.
  • Central Missouri enters play Tuesday afternoon, receiving 15 votes in the latest NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Poll.
  • The Mules' seven-game winning streak came to an end after a 78-72 double-overtime loss at No. 2 Washburn Saturday, Dec. 13, inside Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan.
  • The Mules enter play with the second-most wins in NCAA Division II men's basketball history with 1,787 victories, having won two NCAA Men's DII National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.
 
ON THE AIR 
  • All three games this week will be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon and 11:00 a.m. Wednesday morning inside Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas.
  • Sunday afternoon's coverage against the Saints will begin at 1:00 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.    
  • You can also tune in to all three games on 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The Bar or online at WarrensburgRadio.com with Voice of the Mules Greg Hassler and UCM Athletics Hall of Famer Kim Anderson on the call.
 
HOOPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS 
  • Sunday afternoon's game against the Saints will be our annual Hoops for the Holidays game inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
  • Fans can enjoy a live appearance by Santa Claus, who will be situated at the north end of the arena to spread holiday cheer, featuring decorations and special holiday-themed music.
 
KYRAN TILLEY MEET & GREET 
  • Immediately after the conclusion of Sunday's contest against the Saints, we invite the public to meet the 2024-25 MIAA Freshman of the Year, who will be available for pictures and autographs, courtesy of the Central Stable Collective.  
  • The meet and greet will take place in the northeast corner of the arena, next to the main entrance into the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.  
 
MEET THE MULES 
  • Adam Bohac enters his third season as head coach of the Mules after finishing the 2024-25 season with a 15-15 overall record, including 9-10 in the MIAA highlighted by two All-Conference performers in Kyran Tilley (2024-25 MIAA Freshman of the Year) and DeAirius Barker (Honorable Mention).
  • Central Missouri returns four players from last year's squad, including MIAA Freshman of the Year Kyran Tilley, Jake Fritz, Noah Martin, and Kyree Polk. 
  • The Mules added six transfers to the roster, including three Division I transfers in Naz Brown (Coastal Carolina), AJ Lux (Bellarmine), and Jevon Hill (South Dakota), while adding Division II additions in Judah Sault (Belmont Abbey), Deadric Fikes (Newman), and Deshawne Crim (St. Thomas Aquinas College).
  • Central Missouri added three freshmen from the class of 2025, including forwards Carter Kaifes (Overland Park, Kan.) and Trinell Parker (Omaha, Neb.), plus guard Lazerek Houston (Lincoln, Neb.).
  • The Mules have adopted the acronym #Family as their team motto, which means "Forget About Me, I Love You"
 
UCM BY THE NUMBERS 
  • The Mules come into play Tuesday afternoon with an overall record of 9-3, 2-1 in MIAA play, averaging 80.5 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field, including 39.9 percent from beyond the arc and 69.6 percent from the charity stripe.
  • Central Missouri averages 35.6 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 7.7 steals, and 3.1 blocks per contest.
  • Three Mules are averaging double-digit scoring this season, including freshman Lazerek Houston (19.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.1 rebounds), forward Jevon Hill (14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds), and reigning MIAA Freshman of the Year Kyran Tilley (14 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds).
  • Heading into play Tuesday afternoon, Houston is top five in the country in points scored (236) and field goals made (85). The freshman has recorded two double-double performances on the year, against No. 10 Colorado School of Mines (35 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and four steals) and Drury (13 points, 10 assists, five boards, and two steals).
  • Hill, a native of Wichita, Kan., leads the nation in three pointers made with 42, highlighted by a career-high 30 points, going a career-best 10-of-12 from the floor, including a career-high 9-of-11 from beyond the arc, adding five rebounds for good measure in the 89-67 victory at (Receiving Votes) Drury.
 
SERIES HISTORY
  • No. 8 West Texas A&M: Tuesday marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Buffs and Central Missouri, with the Mules holding a 4-1 advantage, including a record of 3-1 on a neutral floor. The most recent meeting came in the final game of the 1993-94 season, with UCM winning by a final score of 79-74.  
  • No. 4 Lubbock Christian: Wednesday morning will be the first-ever meeting between Lubbock Christian and the Mules.
  • Maryville: Sunday marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Saints and Central Missouri, with the Mules having a 3-1 overall record. A season ago, UCM came away with a 67-55 victory on Wednesday, Nov. 13, led by double-digit scoring performances from guard Jake Fritz (12 points, four rebounds, and two steals) and MIAA Freshman of the Year Kyran Tilley (10 points, three boards, two assists, and two steals).
 
UP NEXT FOR THE MULES
  • The Mules continue MIAA play Thursday, Jan. 1, as they take on the Emporia State Hornets (2-6, 0-2 MIAA) at 7:30 p.m., for New Year's with the Mules and Jennies, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.   
 
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Players Mentioned

DeAirius Barker

#0 DeAirius Barker

G
6' 0"
Senior
Jake Fritz

#5 Jake Fritz

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

F
6' 7"
Junior
Kyree Polk

#23 Kyree Polk

F
6' 9"
Sophomore
Kyran Tilley

#4 Kyran Tilley

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
Deadric Fikes

#1 Deadric Fikes

F
6' 6"
Sophomore
Carter Kaifes

#25 Carter Kaifes

F
6' 6"
Freshman
Trinell Parker

#32 Trinell Parker

F
6' 8"
Freshman
Lazerek Houston

#7 Lazerek Houston

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Jevon Hill

#15 Jevon Hill

F
6' 9"
Junior

Players Mentioned

DeAirius Barker

#0 DeAirius Barker

6' 0"
Senior
G
Jake Fritz

#5 Jake Fritz

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

6' 7"
Junior
F
Kyree Polk

#23 Kyree Polk

6' 9"
Sophomore
F
Kyran Tilley

#4 Kyran Tilley

6' 1"
Sophomore
G
Deadric Fikes

#1 Deadric Fikes

6' 6"
Sophomore
F
Carter Kaifes

#25 Carter Kaifes

6' 6"
Freshman
F
Trinell Parker

#32 Trinell Parker

6' 8"
Freshman
F
Lazerek Houston

#7 Lazerek Houston

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Jevon Hill

#15 Jevon Hill

6' 9"
Junior
F