Tilley dribble drive vs Mary
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Men's Basketball

Mules Basketball Concludes Regular Season at Missouri Southern Thursday, Pitt State Saturday

Game 27: Central Missouri Mules (13-13, 8-9 MIAA) vs Missouri Southern Lions (11-15, 6-11 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Joplin, Mo. (Leggett & Platt Athletic Center) 
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Lions Roster | Missouri Southern Season Stats | Series History
 
 
Game 28: Central Missouri Mules (13-11, 8-7 MIAA) vs Pittsburg State Gorillas (16-10, 12-5 MIAA)
Saturday, March 1 | 3:30 p.m. | Pittsburg, Kan. (John Lance Arena) 
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Gorillas Roster | Pittsburg State Season Stats | Series History

Central Missouri Men's Basketball Game Notes | 2024-25 Mules Basketball Roster | 2024-25 Mules Basketball Season Stats | MIAA Men's Basketball  
 
 TIP OFF 
  • Central Missouri Mules basketball concludes the 2025 regular season on the road against the Missouri Southern Lions (11-15, 6-11 MIAA) Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, Mo. before taking on the Pittsburg State Gorillas (16-10, 12-5) on Saturday, March 1, at 3:30 p.m. from John Lance Arena in Pittsburg, Kan.
  • The Mules fell to the Central Oklahoma Bronchos by a final score of 64-62 on Saturday, Feb. 22, during UCM Athletics Hall of Fame, Mules Basketball Alumni, and Senior Day inside the Jerry M. Hughes Ahtletics Center in Warrensburg.   
  • 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 in Joplin and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon from John Lance Arena.
  • 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 in Joplin and 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon inside John Lance Arena.
 
 
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 (13-13, 8-9 MIAA) fell to the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (15-11, 9-8 MIAA) by a final score of 64-62 on Saturday, Feb. 22, during UCM Athletic Hall of Fame, Mules Basketball Alumni, and Senior Day inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
  • Prior to the contest, the Mules celebrated their five seniors DeAirius Barker, KJ Lee, Jack Chapman, Yafet Haile (four points and two rebounds overall), and Elijah Farr for their contributions to the program.
  • The Mules led by three at the break and thanks to a three-pointer from Barker (team-high 16 points and three boards overall) from Kyran Tilley (12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals), UCM led by one with :21 remaining in the second half.
  • On the ensuing Central Oklahoma possession, forward Jacob Seabock connected for the game-winning shot as the Bronchos never relinquished en route to their 15th win of the season.
  • Oklahoma City, Okla. native Josh Nwankwo had a team-best 16 points, connecting on 50 percent of his chances adding four rebounds while Farr had 11 points, a game-high seven boards, and a game-best three steals on the afternoon.
  • Guard KJ Lee rounded out the scoring for the Mules with three points, three rebounds, and three assists as Central Missouri outscored the Bronchos off turnovers by a margin of 19-6) and bench points 16-9 for good measure.
 
  
UCM BY THE NUMBERS 
  • Through 26 contests this season, the Mules are averaging 62.8 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 72.3 percent from the charity stripe.   
  • Central Missouri is averaging 31.5 rebounds, 11 assists, 7.3 steals, and 2.7 blocks per contest so far this season.
  • The Mules are paced offensively by senior DeAirius Barker who averages 12.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has recorded double-digit scoring in 17 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 145 total rebounds and 22 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 26 games this season and recorded back-to-back double-double performances at Missouri Western (Jan. 23) and Northwest Missouri (Jan. 25).    
  • 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 22 games for the Mules averaging 10 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while adding a team-best 64 assists highlighted by 16 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).
  • After being sidelined last season due to injury, forward Josh Nwankwo averages 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while collecting a team-high 41 steals. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native is one of three Mules to appear in all 26 contests in 2024-25 highlighted by a season-high 24-point outing at Northeastern State (Feb. 13) where he added a team-best eight rebounds for good measure. 
  • Freshman Jake Fritz has appeared in 23 games this season averaging 4.3 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 4.7 points and 3.5 boards per contest with four double-digit scoring performances on the year including a season-best 17 points against Bemidji State (Nov. 8).
 

SERIES HISTORY VS. MISSOURI SOUTHERN
  • Thursday night's contest against the Lions will be the 77th all-time with UCM leading the series 42-34.
  • Missouri Southern won both games from a season ago including 71-62 win in Joplin as the Mules were led by Keith Kiner III's 17 points and five rebounds.
 

SERIES HISTORY VS. PITTSBURG STATE
  • Saturday afternoon's contest against the Gorillas will be the 127th all-time with the Mules leading the series 77-49.
  • The Gorillas won both games from a season ago including a 69-60 win inside John Lance Arena as Central Missouri was led by Keith Kiner III's 21 points and four rebounds.
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Keith Kiner III

#20 Keith Kiner III

F
6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

G/F
6' 7"
Senior
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

F
6' 9"
Senior
Tim Jordan Jr.

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.

F
6' 6"
Sophomore
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Josh Nwankwo

#22 Josh Nwankwo

F
6' 6"
Junior
Corey Skillman Jr.

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
DeAirius Barker

#0 DeAirius Barker

G
6' 0"
Senior
KJ Lee

#3 KJ Lee

G
6' 7"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
G
Keith Kiner III

#20 Keith Kiner III

6' 6"
Redshirt Senior
F
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

6' 7"
Senior
G/F
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

6' 9"
Senior
F
Tim Jordan Jr.

#2 Tim Jordan Jr.

6' 6"
Sophomore
F
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Josh Nwankwo

#22 Josh Nwankwo

6' 6"
Junior
F
Corey Skillman Jr.

#11 Corey Skillman Jr.

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
DeAirius Barker

#0 DeAirius Barker

6' 0"
Senior
G
KJ Lee

#3 KJ Lee

6' 7"
Senior
G