Mules Basketball Opens NCAA-II Central Regional Against Rogers State Saturday in Topeka

TIP OFF

No. 3 Central Missouri Mules (23-9, 14-5 MIAA) begin the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional on Saturday, March 14, against No. 6 Rogers State Hillcats (21-10, 13-6 MIAA), with tip-off slated for noon inside Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan.
The Mules are making their 24th appearance in the NCAA Division II Central Regional tournament in 2026, and the first time since the 2014-15 season under third year head coach Adam Bohac.
Central Missouri enters play Saturday afternoon with an overall record of 38-22 at the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships, including 14-9 in Regional First Round contests.
Freshman guard Lazerek Houston was named the D2CCA (Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association) All-Central Region Player of the Year on Thursday, March 12.
Three Mules earned All-MIAA honors as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, March 5. Guard Lazerek Houston became the first player in MIAA history to be named the Player and Freshman of the Year, while earning First Team honors. Forward Jevon Hill was named to the All-MIAA Second Team, plus sophomore Kyran Tilley earned All-MIAA Defensive and Third Team selections for good measure.
Central Missouri enters play with the second-most wins in NCAA Division II men's basketball history with 1,801 victories, having won two NCAA Men's DII National Championships (1984 & 2014) and four championships (1937 & 1938 NAIB) overall.

ON THE AIR

Each game of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional will be available free of charge through the MIAA Network, with coverage of Saturday's opening round contest beginning at noon, inside Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan.
You can also tune in to the UCM Sports Radio Network on 1450 AM KOKO, 92.1 FM, and 98.5 FM 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.

HEROES RESTAURANT & PUB TO HOST OFFICIAL MULES BASKETBALL WATCH PARTIES

University of Central Missouri Athletics will be hosting watch parties for all Mules and Jennies Basketball NCAA Division II Central Regional games, beginning Friday, March 13. This marks the first time since the 2013-14 season that both teams have qualified for the national tournament during the same season.
Heroes Restaurant & Pub, located at 107 West Pine Street in downtown Warrensburg, will host the official watch parties for both teams throughout the tournament. All UCM fans who are unable to make the trip to either regional site are invited to cheer on the Mules and Jennies and enjoy exclusive food and drink specials.
The third-seeded Mules (23-9, 14-5 MIAA) will begin their quest for a fifth national title on Saturday, March 14, against the six-seed Rogers State Hillcats (21-10, 13-6 MIAA), at noon from Lee Arena, in Topeka, Kan., as Heroes will offer food and drink specials from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday for the Mules' opening round contest.
Heroes will continue to host watch parties as the Mules advance in the tournament. Stay tuned to UCM Athletics' social media for information on potential future game times.

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 come into play at the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional with an overall record of 23-9, 14-5 in MIAA play, averaging 81 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field, including 38.7 percent from beyond the arc and 71.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri averages 36.8 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 7 steals, and 3.3 blocks per contest.
Four Mules are averaging double-digit scoring this season, including MIAA Player and Freshman of the Year Lazerek Houston (21.1 points, 5.1 assists, and four rebounds), All-MIAA Second Team selection Jevon Hill (14.3 points and 5.5 rebounds), All-MIAA Defensive Team and MIAA Third Team member Kyran Tilley (12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists), and Omaha, Neb. native Trinell Parker (11.3 points and 5.3 boards).
Heading into play Saturday, Houston is top-10 in the country in field goals made (244) and points scored (675). The freshman has recorded five double-double performances on the year, highlighted by 13 points, a season-high 12 assists, adding a season-best seven rebounds and two steals during the 78-71 victory over Emporia State (Jan. 1).
Hill, a native of Wichita, Kan., leads the nation in three pointers made with 111, 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.

MULES AT THE NCAA-II CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Mules are making their 24th appearance in the NCAA Division II Central Regional tournament in 2026, and the first time since the 2014-15 season under third year head coach Adam Bohac.
Central Missouri enters play Saturday afternoon with an overall record of 38-22 at the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships, including 14-9 in Regional First Round contests.
The Mules have won four national championships overall, while making five Elite Eight and four Final Four appearances in program history.

ROGERS STATE SCOUTING REPORT

Rogers State enters Saturday's game with an overall record of 21-10 and 13-6 in MIAA play, averaging 76.6 points per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, including 34.8 percent from beyond the arc and 72.5 percent from the charity stripe.
The Hillcats average 33.1 rebounds, 16.9 assists, 7.2 steals, and 3.3 blocks per contest.
Four RSU players are averaging double-figures this season including forward Tim Jordan Jr. (13.6 points and 4.7 rebounds), guard Mason Andrew (12.7 points and 3.8 boards), senior Jabryn Anderson (12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds), and forward Caden Fry (11.3 points and 6 boards).

SERIES HISTORY vs No. 6 HILLCATS

Saturday afternoon marks the 10th all-time meeting between the Hillcats and Central Missouri in program history, with Rogers State holding a 6-3 advantage.
The Hillcats won the lone meeting between both teams during the regular season, as Rogers State defeated the Mules 70-61 on Thursday, Feb. 19, inside the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore, Okla.