The Mules (2-1) used a 24-1 run early in the final stanza to pull away, paced by four threes from senior guard Bryce Brunz during the run.
The start of the game looked promising for the Mules, as they jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but eight consecutive points by the Griffins tied it with 15:42 on the clock. Fontbonne then took its first lead of the night at the 11:35 mark, hitting two free throws to make it 13-11. They would stretch their advantage to as many as five with 10:24 left in the half, but the Mules woke back up after that.
A Lance Beckwith jumper with 7:02 remaining gave UCM the lead for good at 21-20. UCM would get up by as many as nine by the two minute mark on freshman Cullen Rosine’s first collegiate bucket, and went into the break with a 36-28 advantage.
The Mules shot only 34.3 percent in a first half that saw 27 fouls called, while the Griffins hit 43.8 percent. The Mules big advantage was in the turnover and rebound categories, with a 24-13 lead on the glass, and only six turnovers, compared to FU’s 13.
That 24-1 run in the opening part of the second half gave the Mules a 28-point advantage. Tyrone Young kept the Mules going from there along with Brunz. The duo combined for 27 points in the final period, more than Fontbonne scored in the entire half as a team (24).
The Mules hit 54.5 percent in the half, and used a 17-6 advantage in points off turnovers to coast to the win.
Brunz finished with a team-high 17 points, while Young finished with 13. Junior forward Dusty Allen had a career-high 11 points, with Boo Hunter put up 10. Beckwith led the team with seven boards.
The Mules forced 26 turnovers, and made only 11 on their end, while putting up a 40-27 rebound edge. UCM also hit 44.1 percent for the game, while the Griffins made 38.9 percent.
Central Missouri will be back at home on Sunday against Graceland (Iowa) at 2:00 p.m.
No comments:
Post a Comment