WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The (Receiving Votes) Central Missouri Mules (23-8, 14-5 MIAA) defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas (15-14, 9-10 MIAA) by a final score of 78-61, Saturday, Feb. 28, during Alumni Weekend / UCM Athletics Hall of Fame Day, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.     
 
After becoming the second NCAA Division II program to achieve 1,800 wins earlier in the week, defeating Missouri Southern 95-69, the Mules led by four at the break, highlighted by Lazerek Houston's 15 points and seven rebounds.
 
Central Missouri never relinquished the lead in the second half, earning its 23^rd victory of the season, led by Houston's fifth double-double performance of the season with a game-high 27 points, 10 rebounds, and a game-best five assists for good measure.
 
Three Mules finished in double figures, including a season-best 22 points, on 8-of-16 from the floor, adding seven boards from Trinell Parker, while reigning MIAA Freshman of the Year Kyran Tilley had 12 points, on 5-of-9 from the field, adding three rebounds.
 
Carter Kaifes led the UCM bench with eight points and four boards, while forward Jevon Hill had seven rebounds and five points in the winning effort.
 
Sophomores Kyree Polk (two points and two assists) and Jake Fritz each grabbed six rebounds, as the Mules posted a season-high 50 rebounds in the ballgame, as Central Missouri outscored the Gorillas in the paint (50-22), in second-chance (20-4), and off turnovers (15-6) for good measure. 
 
The Mules will be the second seed in the upcoming 2026 MIAA Basketball Championships, as they will take on the winner of the number seven seed vs the number 10 seed first-round game in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 5, at 8:15 p.m. from historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.