Box score

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Despite career highs from Tristan Steele and Tomas Brock, the #7 SBU Bearcats put up a fight on the road in their MIAA opener, before falling 115-99 to the #2 Central Missouri Mules. The Bearcats (7-2, 0-1 MIAA) were without All-American center Matt Rogers, who missed the game with an ankle injury. Steele led the Bearcats with 24 points while Brock had 22 points and nine assists.

"Matt really wanted to play," said head coach Jeff Guiot. "It's his senior year and he's worked hard. We waited until today to decide to play him. Regardless, we have to get better defensively. We were never on the same page. We have to stop the ball screens, which was their bread and butter. They were tougher than us on the boards. UCM got every 50/50 ball."

The Bearcats led early 16-9 on a trey from Thijin Moses before the Mules would battle back to tie the game at 23 with 9:30 left in the first half. UCM would use a 21-8 run over the next seven minutes to lead by 13 points, before SBU would cut that margin to eight points at the half.

After the Bearcats cut the Mules' lead to 52-46 on a jumper by Moses, the Mules ran off nine straight to lead by 15 with just under 16 minutes left in the second half. UCM would extend their margin to 24 points in the second half. The Bearcats would cut the lead to 12 with just under two minutes remaining.

SBU had five players in double figures including Ryan Dougherty with 13 and Tim Baines and Kurt Koenig, each with 10 points. Koenig led SBU with five rebounds.

Guiot added that his team did a good job of pushing the ball inside. "Tristan shot well, and he and Tomas never quit fighting."

Alex Moosmann led the Mules (5-0, 1-0 MIAA) with 28 points, including six of six from long range. Sanjay Watts had 22 points and 9 rebounds for the Mules, who put six players in double figures. The Mules were an astounding 78% in the second half (21 of 27) and out-rebounded the Bearcats 38-30 for the game. UCM outscored SBU 67-59 in the second half. The Mules were also 20 of 24 (83%) from the line in the second half, as 53 total fouls were called on the two teams.

SBU will take a break from MIAA action to host Missouri Baptist at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5.The Bearcats will look to extend their 33-game home court winning streak, the second longest active streak in Division II.