LAKELAND, Fla. – No. 19 Central Missouri Mules (0-1, 0-0 MIAA) fell to No. 3 Gannon Golden Knights (1-0, 0-0 PSAC) by a final score of 98-69, Saturday, Nov. 7, during the opening game of the 2026 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, hosted by Florida Southern University, inside Jenkins Fieldhouse.
Thanks to one of
AJ Lux's (career-high 12 points and five rebounds overall) three triples in the ballgame, the Mules cut Gannon's lead to a pair midway through the opening half of play, but the Golden Knights responded with a 7-0 run, taking a 16-point lead into the break and never relinquished it, earning their first victory of the season.
Five Mules ended the ballgame in double figures, including the second career double-double performance from sophomore
Trinell Parker (11 points and a game-best 10 rebounds), while
Carter Kaifes (three boards and two assists),
CJ Evans (two assists), and
Kye Dickson (two rebounds) ended play with 10 points each.
Senior
Noah Martin posted career-highs in rebounds (seven) and blocks (two), adding eight points, while
BJ Bradford posted four points in his collegiate debut for good measure.
No. 19 Central Missouri concludes the 2026 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday, Nov. 8, as they take on No. 8 Cal State East Bay Pioneers (1-0, 0-0 CCAA) at 12:15 p.m. (CST), inside Jenkins Fieldhouse in Lakeland, Fla.
