The University of Central Missouri Mules defeated the Northeastern State University Riverhawks 89-82 on Thursday, Jan. 21. The Mules were two points behind the Riverhawks for the first half, but the Riverhawks could not keep up with the Mules during the second half. 

  Senior Guard Ja’Cor Nelson helped the Mules gain their lead with a slam dunk at the five minute mark toward the end of the first half. The Mules made 29/69 shots, went 9/23 on three pointers and made 22/27 free throw attempts. The Mules top performers were Nelson with 23 points, senior guard Koray Gilbert with two steals, senior guard Cameron Hunter with five assists and junior guard Dillion Blain with seven blocks. The Mules scored 17 points off of turnovers. 

  The Riverhawks top performers were junior forward Trey Sampson with 26 points and three blocks, Senior Guard Troy Locke with two steals and senior guard Brad Davis with five assists and eight rebounds. The team went 32 for 54 from the field, completed 32/54 shots, 10 for 21 on three pointers and 8-11 from the free-throw line. They changed the lead seven times throughout the game.

  “There are a fun team to watch, and I like seeing my friends play on the court,” freshman kinesiology major Annie Rokusek said.