Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Men's Basketball 2/19/2025 2:45:00 PM

Mules Basketball Hosts Rogers State Thursday, Central Oklahoma for Senior Day

Star Wars Night
Game 25: Rogers State Hillcats (19-8, 10-5 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Mules (13-11, 8-7 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 20 | 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 | Hillcats Roster | Rogers State Season Stats | Series History

Senior Day, UCM Athletic Hall of Fame Day, Mules Basketball Alumni Day
Game 26: Central Oklahoma Bronchos (14-10, 8-7 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Mules (13-11, 8-7 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 22 | 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 | Bronchos Roster | Central Oklahoma Season Stats | Series History

2024-25 Mules Basketball Roster | 2024-25 Mules Basketball Season Stats | MIAA Men's Basketball

TIP OFF

Central Missouri Mules basketball concludes the home portion of conference play against the Rogers State Hillcats (19-8, 10-5 MIAA) Thursday, Feb. 20, beginning at 7:30 p.m. for Star Wars Night before taking on the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (14-10, 8-7 MIAA) Saturday, Feb. 22, beginning at 3:00 p.m. for Senior Day, Mules Basketball Alumni Day and UCM Athletic Hall of Fame Day inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
After the conclusion of Saturday's game against the Bronchos, the Mules will honor their five seniors (DeAirius Barker, KJ Lee, Jack Chapman, Yafet Haile, and Elijah Farr) in a ceremony at center court.
The Mules defeated the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions by a final score of 67-63 on Saturday, Feb. 15, inside the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith, Ark.
This is the 119th season of Central Missouri Basketball as the Mules are the third winningest program in Division II with 1,776 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 98.5 The Bar, 1450 KOKO, 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. Thursday night followed by Saturday afternoon's coverage at 3:00 p.m. 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 3:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg.

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 (13-11, 8-7 MIAA) defeated the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions (10-14, 4-11 MIAA) by a final score of 67-63 on Saturday, Feb. 15, inside the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith, Ark.
UAFS led by one at the break at 36-35 but the Mules responded with an 8-0 run to begin play in the second half and never relinquished en route to their 13^th victory of the season.
Three Mules finished the contest in double-figures including a game-high 19 points from Josh Nwankwo who was 5-of-8 from the floor including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc adding a team-best five rebounds for good measure.
Cincinnati, Ohio native DeAirius Barker had 15 points hitting 3-of-8 shots from downtown grabbing four boards and two steals while forward Elijah Farr finished with 13 points going 4-of-6 from the field including a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe adding three rebounds and three assists.
Freshman Kyran Tilley had nine points, three rebounds, and two assists, plus, guard KJ Lee had six points and five assists in the winning effort.
Central Missouri shot 52.5 percent from the field on the afternoon as sophomore Noah Martin had three points while guard Jake Fritz grabbed three boards and had two points.

UCM BY THE NUMBERS

Through 24 contests this season, the Mules are averaging 63 points per game while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, including 33.5 percent from beyond the arc and 71.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri is averaging 31.6 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 7.4 steals, and 2.8 blocks per contest so far this season.
The Mules are paced offensively by senior DeAirius Barker who averages 12 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has recorded double-digit scoring in 15 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 134 total rebounds and 21 blocks on the year while averaging 5.6 boards per contest adding 8.7 points per game. Farr is the lone player to start all 24 games this season and recorded back-to-back double-double performances at Missouri Western (Jan. 23) and Northwest Missouri (Jan. 25).
After being sidelined last season due to injury, forward Josh Nwankwo leads UCM shooting 51.5 percent from the floor including 40.4 percent from beyond the arc averaging 7.8 points per game while grabbing 4.4 boards per contest. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native is one of five Mules to play in all 24 games while having four consecutive games with double-digit scoring including a season-best 24 points against Northeastern State (Feb. 13).
Senior Jack Chapman is second on the Mules shooting 50.5 percent from the floor going 52-of-103 overall including 8-of-29 from beyond the arc scoring 129 points and grabbing 92 rebounds while recording four double-digit scoring performances highlighted by an 18-point outing against Tabor (Dec. 1).
Louisville, Ky. native Kyran Tilley has started 20 games for the Mules averaging 9.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while adding a team-best 59 assists highlighted by 14 double-digit scoring performances including a season and game-high 21 points against Fort Hays State (Dec. 5).
Sophomore Tim Jordan Jr. is fifth on the team with 179 points averaging 8.1 points per contest adding 63 boards and 20 assists in 22 games this season highlighted by 10 double-digit outings including a season-high 19 against Maryville (Nov. 13).
Freshman Jake Fritz has appeared in 21 games this season averaging 4.7 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).
O'Fallon, Mo. native KJ Lee averages 4.5 points and 3.4 boards per contest with three double-digit scoring performances on the year including a season-best 17 points against Bemidji State (Nov. 8).

SERIES HISTORY VS. ROGERS STATE

Thursday night's contest will be the eighth all-time meeting between Rogers State and the Mules dating back to the 2019-20 season with the Hillcats leading the series 4-3 overall.
Central Missouri won the game in Warrensburg 75-57 on Thursday, Feb. 29 of last season led by Tim Jordan Jr.'s career-high 25 points while Jordan Hayes had a career-best 14 points for good measure.

SERIES HISTORY VS. CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Saturday afternoon's contest against the Bronchos will be the 26^th all-time with UCO leading the series 15-10.
The Bronchos won both games from a season ago including 64-58 in Warrensburg as the Mules were led by Mikel Henderson's 19 points and four rebounds.

UP NEXT FOR THE MULES

Central Missouri continues MIAA play on the road against the Missouri Southern Lions (11-13, 6-9 MIAA) on Thursday, Feb. 27, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Jordan Hayes: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#10 Jack Chapman: G/F; 6' 7"; Senior

#13 Yafet Haile: F; 6' 9"; Senior

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#21 Noah Martin: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

#22 Josh Nwankwo: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#0 DeAirius Barker: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#3 KJ Lee: G; 6' 7"; Senior

#4 Kyran Tilley: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Jordan Hayes
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#10 Jack Chapman
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G/F

#13 Yafet Haile
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#21 Noah Martin
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#22 Josh Nwankwo
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#0 DeAirius Barker
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#3 KJ Lee
: 6' 7"; Senior
: G

#4 Kyran Tilley
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G