Missouri Southern will face Central Missouri in the first semifinal of NCAA D-II regionals in men's basketball (photo/MSSULions.com)

Missouri Southern will face Central Missouri in the first semifinal of NCAA D-II regionals in men’s basketball (photo/MSSULions.com)

Central Missouri held Arkansas Tech to just .296 shooting from the field as they earned a 56-44 victory in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional. UCM capitalized on 21 points off of turnovers as they advanced to the semi final round of the tournament.

Charles Hammork led the way for the Mules scoring 17 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Jon Gilliam scored 10 points and Dillon Deck added nine points to nine rebounds. Preston Brunz and Daylen Robinson each dished out five assists while Robinson added a game high four steals.

Central Missouri will now face third seeded Missouri Southern in the semi finals at 6 p.m. on March 16 from Mankato, Minn.

Senior guard Marquis Addison scored 26 points and the No. 19 Missouri Southern men’s basketball team took out Fort Hays 80-69.  Southern (25-5) was led by Addison’s 26 as the Olathe, Kan. native went 9-13 from the field, 2-2 from long-range and 6-9 from the free-throw line to go with nine rebounds, three asissts and two steals.

Northwest Missouri shot a blistering .615 from the field as they picked up a 98-77 win over Winona State to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Central Regional semifinal. The Bearcats were 11 of 20 from behind the three-point line good for .550 shooting as they advance in the tournament held in Mankato, Minn.

DeShaun Cooper led the way for NWMSU scoring 29 points and dishing out six assists while Bryston Williams pulled down a team best seven boards. Dillon Starzl finished with 20 points and Conner Crooker had 19 points and six rebounds. Zach Schneider his a team best four three-pointers and finished with 12 points on the night.

Northwest Missouri will face top seed and tournament host Minnesota State-Mankato at 8:30 p.m. on March 16 in the semifinal round from Mankato, Minn.