With their new No. 2 national ranking, the Central Missouri Mules came on strong in the second half to beat Rockhurst University 79-66 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City as a part of the CBE Classic.

The Mules fell behind in the early going as the Hawks ran out to a 13-8 advantage in the first six minutes. Seniors Sanijay Watts and Alex Moosmann would score the next six points to give the lead back to UCM at the 11:37 mark. The two squads went back and forth for the rest of the period with five ties and seven lead changes. With the score tied at 27, Moosmann hit a pull-up jumper with five seconds left to lift UCM to a two-point halftime lead. 

Central Missouri hit 48.5 percent in the period, but went 0-of-6 from beyond the arc, while RU hit 38.3 percent. Watts and Moosmann had eight points apiece to lead UCM, while sophomore forward Dusty Allen chipped in seven points off the bench. 

The Mules came out with a purpose in the final period, starting it on an 11-1 run, capped by a three from Moosmann. UCM went on another rally with 11:16 left, this time it was 9-0, capped by another layup from Allen to make it a 20-point lead with 8:29 remaining. The closest the Hawks would get from there was nine points with 2:21 left, but UCM got it back to 13 by the final buzzer. 

The Mules shot 54.5 percent and used a 23-15 rebound edge in the final stanza, while hitting six more field goals than the Hawks.  Watts finished with his first double-double of the season, tallying 22 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Tremaine Luellen also put up a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards, scoring 10 in the second half. Moosmann finished with 16 points, while Allen had nine.

Story courtesy of Central Missouri Athletics