No. 3 Mules Basketball Set for NCAA-II Central Regional Semifinals Sunday Against No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist

NCAA-II Men's Basketball Central Regional Game 2: No. 3 Central Missouri Mules (23-9, 14-5 MIAA) vs No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist Bison (28-3, 20-2 GAC)
Sunday, March 15 | 5:00 p.m. | Topeka, Kan. (Lee Arena)
Radio: 1450 AM KOKO, 92.1 FM, and 98.5 FM The BAR (Greg Hassler & Kim Anderson)
Live Stats | Live Video | Bison Roster | Oklahoma Baptist 2025-26 Season Stats

2026 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional

2025-26 Mules Basketball Roster | 2025-26 Central Missouri Basketball Season Stats | NABC Top 25 Poll

TIP OFF

No. 3 Central Missouri Mules (24-9, 14-5 MIAA) continue the 2026 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional on Sunday, March 15, against No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist Bison (28-3, 20-2 MIAA), with tip-off slated for 5:00 p.m. inside Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan.
Central Missouri advanced with an 88-77 victory over the No. 6 Rogers State Hillcats (21-11, 13-6 MIAA) on Saturday, March 14, led by Jake Fritz's career-high 20 points on 6-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
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 Sunday night with an overall record of 39-22 at the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships, including 6-8 in Regional Second 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 1,802 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 Sunday's second round contest beginning at 5:00 p.m., 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 the Mules for the NCAA Division II Central Regional Semifinals on Sunday, March 15, with tip-off slated for 5:00 p.m. inside Lee Arena in Topeka.
Heroes Restaurant & Pub, located at 107 West Pine Street in downtown Warrensburg, will host the official watch party of Mules basketball. All UCM fans who are unable to make the trip to Lee Arena are invited to cheer on the Mules and enjoy exclusive food and drink specials.
Heroes will offer half priced nachos during Sunday's second round contest, exclusively during the game only.
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 Semifinals with an overall record of 24-9, 14-5 in MIAA play, averaging 81.2 points per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field, including 39.1 percent from beyond the arc and 72 percent from the charity stripe.
Central Missouri averages 36.5 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 6.9 steals, and 3.2 blocks per contest.
Four Mules are averaging double-digit scoring this season, including D2CCA and MIAA Player of the Year Lazerek Houston (21 points, 5.1 assists, and four rebounds), All-MIAA Second Team selection Jevon Hill (14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds), All-MIAA Defensive Team and MIAA Third Team member Kyran Tilley (12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists), and Omaha, Neb. native Trinell Parker (11.2 points and 5.3 boards).
Heading into play Sunday, Houston is top-10 in the country in field goals made (249) and points scored (694). 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 114, 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 Sunday afternoon with an overall record of 39-22 at the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships, including 6-8 in Regional Second Round contests.
The Mules have won four national championships overall, while making five Elite Eight and four Final Four appearances in program history.

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST SCOUTING REPORT

Oklahoma Baptist enters Sunday's game with an overall record of 28-3 and 20-2 in GAC (Great American Conference) play, averaging 77.5 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, including 31.6 percent from beyond the arc and 66.4 percent from the charity stripe.
The Bison average 38 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 7.8 steals, and 3.9 blocks per contest.
Three Bison players are averaging double-figures this season, including guard Terry Coner Jr. (20.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists), senior Joshua Udoumoh (13.1 points and 5.2 boards), and forward Jackson Greene (13 points and 5.1 boards).

SERIES HISTORY vs OKLAHOMA BAPTIST

Sunday afternoon marks the fourth all-time meeting between the Bison and Central Missouri in program history, and the first time these teams have met in over 30 years.
Oklahoma Baptist won the first meeting 70-66 during the 1973-74 campaign, while the Mules have won the previous two matchups, including a 98-72 victory during their latest meeting in the 1990-91 season.

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