Muleskinner

Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: Sports

MOVING UP-- Senior guard Wadale Williams leaps over Northwest's Matt Withers in front of 5,675 fans at the Multi, the Mules' largest home crowd since 1989. The Mules won the game 69-55 and improved their season record to 16-0. Northwest was the No. 15 ranked team in the country before the game, while the Mules remain No. 3 in the latest NCAA-II poll.

LOOKING AHEAD--The Mules will have to win on the road if they hope to stay undefeated as three of the next four games are on the road, including a rematch with Northwest Feb. 3.

The Fighting Mules of UCM will take their show on the road Saturday when they face the Gorillas of Pittsburg State University.

In their last home game, the 3rd-ranked Mules battled a familiar foe in their arch rival Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State University.

Last Saturday's meeting was the 194th meeting between both teams, making the rivalry the oldest series in UCM basketball history.

NWMSU came into the game 15th in the nation and had won five of their last six games, while the Mules had opened the season 15-0 and 6-0 in the MIAA conference.

UCM won both games last year in double overtime and overtime, so the Mules knew this battle would be similar.
Unlike most Mules' games, the Bearcats got off to a fast start, as they opened the game on an 8-2 run. The momentum of the game changed when the shot-clock buzzer malfunctioned and went off for more than a minute at 14:24 that seemed to slow down the Bearcats. When the game continued, senior forward Darryl Sommerset energized Mules with two fast-break dunks to give the Mules a 15-14 point lead.

For the rest of the first half, the game was a battle that saw six lead changes and three score ties. Within the seesaw battle, the points for both teams came from the inside play, as NWMSU sophomore forward Henry Hunter battled Sommerset all game. Both players finished the first half with double-digit points.
The Mules finished the half with a 33-28 lead after a very tight first half where the biggest lead was six by both teams. Both teams shot under 40 percent, and the Mules maintained a five-point lead despite senior guards Zack Wright, Wadale Williams and Sommerset each having two fouls.

"I really thought our guys hung in there early against one of the best defensive teams in the country," said head coach Kim Anderson.

The second half started much like the first half with each team scoring back and forth. Anderson then made an adjustment after an early third foul by Wright in the second half. Since the Mules missed their first 10 three-pointers, Anderson had the team go inside and have the three-guard attack of Theo Jones, Williams and Wright penetrate the Bearcat defense.

It would prove to be the answer against the Bearcats as the.
The game opened up for the Mules increased their lead to 57-47 after Williams went coast-to-coast for a lay up with 5:33 left in the game.

"Our backcourt did a great job of penetrating and finding open players," Sommerset said. "All second half, coach Anderson wanted us to take it to the rim, and we were able to do that."
Sommerset put the game out of reach when he scored on a three-point play to increase the lead to 16 and on to 69-55 victory. The Mules won the game by allowing NWMSU to shoot only 40 percent from the field and getting to the line to make 22 of 29 free throws.

"We wanted to play 40 minutes of Mules' basketball because we know how important this game is every year, and our defense stepped up in the second half," Jones said.

Sommerset led the way with 20 points while Williams tallied 15 points, seven boards, four assists and a game-high four steals. Wright had 11 points and senior center Alonzo Brooks ended the game with 10 and a team-high eight rebounds. Henry led the Bearcats with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 11 rebounds.

The win over the rival Bearcats was also watched by the largest home crowd at the Multipurpose Building since 1989.

"The fans were great, and they were right into this rivalry game from the start all they way to the finish," Sommerset said.
The 5,675 fans poured into the Multipurpose Building to watch the Mules win their 16th straight home game that dates back to last season.

"The atmosphere was tremendous because everybody came out supported the team, and I know our team feeds off of the fans," Anderson said.

The Mules' last game was last night against the Truman State University in Maryville.

Results of this game were not be available before press deadlines. The Mules return in action this Saturday as they face Pitt State.

The Gorillas come into the game 10-8 and 3-6 in conference play after Kevin Wagstaff of Fort Hays State University scored a driving layup with 0.1 seconds remaining to lift the Tigers to a 77-75 road win over the Gorillas at John Lance Arena Monday. The Mules next three of four games are on the road.

"We have some road games coming up and we know that we have to stay patient offensively and defensively against Pitt State," Anderson said

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