(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) — The Mules extended their season-opening win streak to six games with an 85-65 win over MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday at the UCM Multipurpose Building. Five Mules finished in double figures in the win over head coach Doug Karleskint‘s alma mater.

Both teams came out firing in the early going. A three-pointer from Roosevelt Scott gave the Mules their first lead of the game at 7-4. The lead grew to six at 20-14, helped by treys from Kyle wolf and Spencer Reaves.

The Pioneers (6-2) battled back to within a point at 22-21 at the 8:04 mark. Marquiez Lawrence and D’Marnier Cunningham made four straight free throws and Cunningham added a jumper to push UCM back in front 28-21 with 6:19 to play. MNU pulled back to within four, but another three from Reaves ignited a 10-2 run that gave the Mules a 40-28 lead with 2:04 left in the half. The Mules would lead by 13, 47-34 at the intermission thanks to a Tony Cochran steal and lay-in right before the buzzer.

A 6-2 spurt out of halftime gave the Mules a 17-point lead just 70 seconds in to the second half at 53-36. The Pioneers used a 6-0 run to get back within 11 at the 16:57 mark, but a 15-8 run by the Mules pushed the lead back to 18 at the 12:38 mark. The lead was grow to as many as 25 in the game as the Mules cruised to their sixth straight win.

Scott and Cunningham led the way for UCM with 17 points apiece. Lawrence had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Reaves and Wolf added 12 points apiece. The Mules shot 50 percent for the game, going 31-of-62. They were 8-of-20 at the free throw line for 40 percent, but just 15-of-27 for 55 percent at the foul line.

MNU was led by Gabriel Jordan’s 13 points. The Pioneers were 22-of-52 from the field for 42 percent, 4-of-14 from three-point range for 28 percent and 17-of-29 at the free throw line for 58 percent.

The Mules out-rebounded MNU 42-28 and came away with 10 steals while forcing 15 Pioneer turnovers.

UCM opens MIAA play Wednesday night hosting Missouri Western for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.