Mules pull away late to take 84-64 win over Yellowjackets

(Warrensburg, Mo.) – The No. 16 Central Missouri Mules used a late run to pull away from Graceland University on Sunday afternoon at the Multipurpose Building, taking an 84-64 win behind 24 points from senior guard Tyrone Young.
          
The Mules (3-1) struggled from the floor in the opening period thanks to the zone defense Graceland was playing. UCM hit only 37.5 percent in the half, and GU led most of the way, jumping out to a two-point lead on four occasions in the first eight minutes. The Yellowjackets pushed their lead to as many as four on two different instances, but the Mules eventually took the lead with 3:22 to play in the quarter on a three from junior guard Boo Hunter, making it 26-24.
          
Another three by Hunter with 2:38 left pushed it to four, before senior guard Bryce Brunz tallied two treys to push it to an eight point margin at the half.
          
Hunter led UCM with 11 at the break, while Young had eight. The Mules out-rebounded the Yellowjackets by four, and held them to only 38.5 percent shooting.
          
Central Missouri came out quick in the second stanza with faster, guard oriented lineup, pushing the lead to 19 in less than four minutes. It got kick-started by back-to-back buckets from Young, who had a steal and fastbreak jam during the run.

The Mules kept the margin in double-digits until GU made a run at them with 9:39 to play. Over the next 3:34, the Yellowjackets put together a 10-2 rally, cutting it to only eight. Back-to-back three-pointers from Tyler Raasch fueled the spurt, while the steady inside play of Jake Smith kept them in the game.
The Mules squashed that rally, exploding for a 17-2 run that put them up by 24 with 1:26 to play. Junior guard Reggie Stallings made some key buckets during the stretch, as did Hunter and Young.

Central Missouri shot 50 percent in the second half, and was led by Young with 16 points, and Stallings with 13. UCM also had 10 assists to only three turnovers in the period.

For the game, the Mules had four players in double-figures, Young had his 24, Hunter tallied 19, Stallings put up all 13 of his points in the final stanza, and Brunz scored 12. UCM had a decided advantage in points off turnovers, with a 29-to-13 clip.

Central Missouri will head to Kansas City, Missouri for their annual matchup with Rockhurst at the Sprint Center on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. There will be a free Alumni and Friends function prior to the free admission game at Johnny’s Tavern in the Power and Light District, taking place at 1:00 p.m.