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University of Central Missouri Athletics

Deadric Fikes layup vs Upper Iowa
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Men's Basketball

Mules Basketball Opens MIAA Play Hosting Fort Hays State Thursday, Nebraska-Kearney Saturday

Star Wars Night
Game 10: RV Fort Hays State Tigers (5-1, 0-0 MIAA) vs RV Central Missouri Mules (7-2, 0-0 MIAA)
Thursday, Dec. 4 | 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 | Tigers Roster | Fort Hays State 2025-26 Season Stats | Series History
  
Warrensburg Day
Game 11: Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (4-3, 0-0 MIAA) vs RV Central Missouri Mules (7-2, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, Dec. 6 | 3:00 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Lopers Roster | Nebraska-Kearney 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
 
 
TIP OFF 
  • The (Receiving Vote) Central Missouri Mules continue the 120th season of play with a pair of MIAA matchups, beginning Thursday night, hosting the (Receiving Votes) Fort Hays State Tigers at 7:30 p.m. for Star Wars Night, before taking on the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. for Warrensburg Day inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.
  • The Mules enter play Thursday night, receiving a vote in the latest NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Poll, marking the first time since the 2017-18 season that UCM has garnered recognition.
  • Central Missouri won all three contests last week, defeating McKendree 75-67 and (Receiving Votes) Drury 89-67 during the DoubleTree by Hilton Thanksgiving Classic in Springfield, Mo., before taking down the Tabor College Bluejays by a final score of 89-62 Sunday, Nov. 30, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.  
  • The Mules enter play Thursday night with the second-most wins in NCAA Division II men's basketball history with 1,785, having won two NCAA Men's DII National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.
 
 
ON THE AIR 
  • Both games will be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening and 3:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.  
  • You can also tune in to the 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.
 
 
STAR WARS NIGHT 
  • Thursday's game against the Tigers will be the second annual Star Wars Night, presented by Culver's of Warrensburg.
  • The first 100 fans to receive a voucher prior to the Jennies game are eligible to redeem their voucher for a lightsaber after the conclusion of the Mules game.   
  • There will be free pizza provided to the first 100 students in the Roaring Red Student Section, courtesy of UCM Athletics.
 
 
WARRENSBURG DAY 
  • Fans that show a valid ID with a Warrensburg or a Johnson County, Missouri address will receive $5 admission to Saturday's game against the Lopers.   
  • There will be a family-friendly zone inside the arena featuring a bounce house, courtesy of Warrensburg Parks and Recreation.
 
 
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 are averaging 81.2 points per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, including 39.4 percent from beyond the arc and 68.9 percent from the charity stripe, through nine games in the 2025-26 campaign.
  • Central Missouri averages 35.2 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 8.2 steals, and 3.3 blocks per contest.
  • Three Mules are averaging double-digit scoring through nine games this season, including freshman Lazerek Houston (20.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds), forward Jevon Hill (15.8 points and five rebounds), and reigning MIAA Freshman of the Year Kyran Tilley (13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists).
  • Heading into play Thursday night, Houston leads the country in points scored (182) and field goals made (64), while ranking third in assists with 48. 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 33, 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
  • RV Fort Hays State: Thursday marks the 38th all-time meeting between the Tigers and Central Missouri. The Mules lead the series 20-17, including a record of 10-6 in Warrensburg following last season's 41-31 victory inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.  This was Central Missouri's first win allowing 31 points or less since a 33-31 home victory over the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri during the 1948-49 season.
  • Nebraska-Kearney: Saturday afternoon's contest between the Mules and UNK will be the 25th all-time meeting, with Central Missouri holding a 14-10 advantage, including 7-5 at home following last season's 57-52 Loper victory.
 
 
UP NEXT FOR THE MULES
  • The Mules continue MIAA play Saturday, Dec. 13, as they travel to Topeka, Kan., for a matchup with No. 2 Washburn Ichabods (8-0, 0-0 MIAA) at 3:00 p.m., inside Lee Arena.

 
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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