WARRENSBURG — Mules basketball’s 65-53 loss to Washburn came with emotion.
Central Missouri’s downfall marked its fourth-consecutive. The game directly followed an overtime loss to Emporia State on Thursday, Feb. 16.
Mules (11-15, 7-13 MIAA) head coach Doug Karleskint said the sting from the Hornets carried over to game time against the Ichabods.
“We exerted a lot of energy Thursday night,” Central Missouri head coach Doug Karleskint said. “We suffered a really heartbreaking loss. But, I’ve always had confidence in our team to bounce back when we have our backs against the wall. They always really fought. Today was the first time all year I don’t think we really fought.”
Outside of layups from redshirt junior Garrett Luinstra and redshirt junior Mark Mayle giving UCM a 4-0 lead, Washburn (13-13, 10-10 MIAA) had the scoreboard in its advantage the entire contest.
The Mules soon found themselves trailing 8-4. The buildup led to a 34-26 halftime difference. UCM made 12-of-28 shots in the first half compared to Washburn’s 10-of-23. The Ichabods also sank 13-of-15 attempts from the charity stripe within the first 20 minutes.
“I didn’t like our energy or our effort from the tip to be honest with you,” Karleskint said. “I don’t want to take anything away from Washburn. But, that just wasn’t ourselves today. Finding ourselves and playing on the floor and moving the basketball, moving people. We did not do that today. That's what is disappointing.”
UCM fought back to start the second half using two makes from Mayle and one from Luinstra to bring the game back within four.
Washburn briefly built its lead back to nine before two jumpers from sophomore Jack Chapman and one from sophomore Ben Fritz brought the Mules within three with 12:44 remaining.
The 43-40 score marked the closest Central Missouri got to gaining a second half lead. Washburn proceeded to outscore the Mules 22-13.
Central Missouri made 39.7% (23-for-56) of its shots, including 13% (3-of-23) from deep. Washburn made 38.9% (21-of-54), including 31.3% (5-of-16) beyond the arc.
“The fans, the alums, the Hall of Fame teams, and everybody that came here today, they deserve so much better than that,” Karleskint said. “The seniors that walked, that’s why my heart really aches for them. Because we didn’t give a great effort. It falls on me. I got to get the guys ready to go. We just didn’t have it today.”
Chapman paced Central Missouri with 12 points while redshirt senior Gaven Pinkley had nine, Mayle had eight and redshirt sophomore Mikel Henderson had seven.
The loss sends the Mules onto their final two guaranteed games of the season, traveling to
Rogers State (14-12, 10-10 MIAA) on Thursday, Feb. 23 and Northeastern State (10-14, 7-13 MIAA) on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Central Missouri remains in search of clinching a spot in the MIAA Tournament.
It maintains its 10th-place positioning needed to earn a trip to Kansas City, though the final week of the regular season will be decisive in whether or not that happens.
“Let’s clear our minds,” Karleskint said. “Two tough losses at home … We got to get ready for two good teams on the road. We got to wash it. We know we can.”
Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
