Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Central Missouri Mules sunk 11 three pointers and used two big runs to get past the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team, 78-64, Wednesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UCM (11-3, 5-1) now sits atop the MIAA standings thanks to a five-game winning streak. Playing the Mules for the first time since 1979, the Lopers fall to 4-11 (1-6).
 
Coming into the night shooting 32% from the three point line, and averaging around six treys per game, Central Missouri bucked the trends by hitting 10 triples in the first 25 minutes.

For the game, UCM shot 40.7% from long range (11 of 27) with four different players making at least two threes. 
 
UNK, playing a zone defense against a very athletic Mules squad, tied things up at 27 on two free throws by Pierre Newton (Laveen, Ariz.) at the 4:40 mark. UCM responded by closing the half on a 12-2 run that featured threes by reserves Charles Hammork and Ryan Magdziarz.
 
Having a plus 10 rebounding margin for the game, UNK was down 42-31 early in the second half before going an 11-4 spurt that saw junior post Mike Dentlinger (Millard North) score six of his 15 points.
 
Ahead 52-47 with 13:15 to play, UCM used the fast break to score the game's next 11 points. This stretch included dunks by Reggie Stallings and Alex Dean and a three point play by Widgett Washington.
 
Thanks to a big first half, Hammork led UCM in points (15) and rebounds (nine) with Magdziarz going 4 of 9 from down town to tally 12. Overall, the Mules got 36 points off its bench.

Washington (13 points & seven assists) was strong after the break and starter Dominique Long hit three triples to tally 13.
 
UNK, scoring 15 second chance points on 16 offensive caroms, got 16 points from Newton, who fouled out late. Dentlinger made 6 of 11 shots to reach his point total with Kearney sophomore Tyler Shields recording his second double double of the winter (10 points & 10 rebounds).
 
The Lopers start a three-game road swing Saturday afternoon at Missouri Southern State.