(SIOUX FALLS, S.D.) — The Central Missouri Mules tipped off the 2013-14 in dramatic fashion as they rallied for a 66-65 win over Northern State in the Sanford Pentagon Basketball Showcase at the Sanford Pentagon on Saturday afternoon. UCM rallied from four points down in the final 2:51 to claim the win.

The teams went back and forth to start the game with neither team able to seize control. The Wolves (0-1) went ahead 10-8 with 15:44 left in the first half on a three pointer by Jared Hannigan, but UCM (1-0) quickly tied the game on a layup by Kyle Wolf. A layup by TJ White gave the Mules a 12-10 advantage with 13:42 to play in the opening stanza, but Northern State went on a 7-0 run to grab a five point lead midway through the first half.

The Mules were able to cut the lead to three at 19-16 on a jumper from Preston Brunz, but an 8-2 run by the Wolves extended the lead to nine with 8:08 to play in the half. UCM then rattled off eight straight points of their own to pull within one. Brennen Hughes‘ layup started the run followed by a Kyle Wolf three and a traditional three-point play fromRyan Magdziarz.

NSU pushed the lead back to five at 33-28 at the 4:43 mark of the first half, but a 10-0 spurt by the Mules gave them their biggest lead of the game at 38-33 with 2:02 to play before halftime. Seth Bachand made a pair of free throws for Northern State and Darin Peterka hit a jumper with under a minute to play and UCM went into the intermission leading 38-37.

The Mules pushed the lead back to five out the halftime break, but a 6-0 run gave the Wolves a 43-42 lead with 14:44 to play in the game. The lead switched hands back and forth on seemingly each possession over the next eight minutes. Magdziarz hit a layup to give UCM a 58-57 lead with 5:47 to play, but Trent Zomer made two free throws to push NSU back in front at the 5:17 mark.

Hughes hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 59-all with 4:49 to play, but Tydan Storrusten’s two foul shots gave the Wolves a 61-59 lead with 4:05 to play. Zomer made one of two at the line with 3:23 left to make it a three point game and Bachand made one of two to give NSU a 63-59 lead with 2:51 to play.

Brunz drilled a trey to pull the Mules within one, but Bachand pushed the lead back to three with a layup at the 1:36 mark. Daylen Robinson‘s layup at 1:22 pulled UCM to within 65-64 and Brunz nailed a jumper with :36 remaining in the game to give the Mules the 66-65 lead. The Wolves had the final possession, but Hughes’ block of Bachand’s layup with :01 remaining preserved the win for Central Missouri.

Hughes led UCM with 16 points on 7 of 8 shooting. He also had five rebounds and four blocks. Brunz had 12 points and was a perfect 4 of 4 from the field. Wolf had 11 points and seven rebounds and Magdziarz also had 11 points.

The Mules shot 44 percent from the field, 27 of 61, but just 29 percent, 5 of 17, from beyond the arc. UCM was 7 of 14 at the foul line for 50 percent. The Mules outscored NSU 40-34 in the pain and had 14 points off 11 Wolves turnovers. The Mules had 11 assists and seven turnovers of their own.

Bachand led Northern State with 16 points, while Zomer had 13 and seven boards. The Wolves shot 24 of 54 from the floor for 44 percent, but made just 2 of 10 from three point range. NSU was 15 of 23 at the charity stripe for 65 percent.

The game had nine ties and 19 lead changes.

The Mules are back in action on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Sanford Pentagon Showcase. UCM will take on Augustana (S.D.) with an approximate tip time of 4 p.m. The game can be heard live on the new 44,000-watt 98.5 The Bar, 1450 KOKO and warrensburgradio.com with UCM Athletic Hall of Famer Bill Turnage on the call.

Box Score