(ST. CHARLES, Mo.) — The 22nd-ranked Mules had their three-game winning streak snapped with an 82-68 loss at Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon at Hyland Arena. With the loss, UCM falls to 16-4 overall and 7-4 in MIAA play.
The Mules couldn’t have asked for a better start as they raced out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game. The Lions (13-6, 8-2 MIAA) used an 8-1 run to tie the game at 8-all with 14:49 to play in the half. The Mules went back in front by five at 17-12, but the Lions kept coming back.
Lindenwood tied the game at 23 and then took their first lead of the game on a Darris Smith three-point play at 26-25 with 6:09 left in the first half. The Lions closed out the first half on a 12-5 run and led 38-30 at the intermission.
The Mules scored the first five points of the second half to pull within three at 38-35. They had five straight possessions with a chance to tie or get to within one, but couldn’t get their shots to fall.
UCM would go 6:24 without a field goal in the second half. The deficit went from three points to nine in that span. The Mules battled back to within six at 51-45 on a Preston brunz three-pointer, but the Lions pushed the lead to 13 at 64-51. The Mules got back to within nine two different times, but the Lions iced the game at the free throw line.
Brunz and Kyle Wolf led UCM with 11 points each and Brennen Hughes added 10. The Mules were 23-of-50 for 46 percent and 8-of-19 from beyond the arc for 42 percent. UCM was 14-of-21 at the foul line for 67 percent.
Smith led LWU with 28 points, while Cory Arentsen had 22. Garrett Reeg chipped in 12 points off the bench and Sam Mader had 10.
The Lions were 28-of-52 from the field for 54 percent and made just 2-of-13 from three-point range for 15 percent. LWU was 24-of-26 at the charity stripe for 92 percent.
The Mules are off until next Saturday when they travel to Joplin, Missouri to take on Missouri Southern at 3:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler on the call.