Muleskinner

Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner Both UCM basketball team's had high hopes entering the MIAA tournament, and each went home in the first round. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner After the tournament loss, the Mules walked off the court for the last time this season. [Click to enlarge]

After going to the Division II Final Four last year, the UCM Mules basketball team bowed out of postseason play in the first round of their MIAA conference tournament.

The No. 3 seeded Mules lost to the No. 6 seeded Washburn Ichabods, 79-68 inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City March 7.

The Mules seemed to be in control halfway through the first half, as junior guard Joe Young sparked Central Missouri, but Washburn fought back and went into the half with a 35-33 lead.

"They started face guarding me, and denying me the ball," Young said. "They were keying in on me specifically."

Young finished the night with a game-high 26 points, but it was the Mules' lack of rebounding and defense that cost them the game and their season.

The Mules were out-rebounded 40-30, as their defense struggled to get to loose balls throughout the match.

"Over the last 10 games, we had held teams to under 60 points," said Mules' coach Kim Anderson. "That's why we didn't win the game."

UCM thought it might have an advantage over the Ichabods after playing them six days ago to finish the regular season, but it didn't work out in the Mules' favor.

"We slept with their plays," said junior forward Skip Thomas. "We just didn't give it a hundred percent. We gave a hundred percent sometimes, and sometimes, we didn't give it all we got."

Thomas scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Senior forward Kevin Wollbrinck and junior guard De'Andre Byrd were the only other Mules to score in double figures, with 10 apiece.

The loss, the Mules finished the season 18-10 overall, marked the first time the Mules haven't made it past the first round of the MIAA Tournament since 2004. Not advancing in the MIAA tournament also stopped any chances of the Mules receiving a NCAA D-II tournament bid as well.

For Young, losing a frustrating game to end the season was due in large part to Washburn's ability in learning for the loss that happened six days earlier.

"[Washburn] thrives on executing and running their plays," Young said. "We had too many breakdowns on defense. They were a hungrier team."

With 10 new players this year, Anderson hopes his team can build on this year 's season. Despite the loss, Anderson said he wasn't disappointed with his team this season.

"I'm disappointed with the loss, not with the team," he said. "I like this core group, I really do; we just have to get better offensively."

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