The Central Missouri State Mules are looking for a happy 30th anniversary.
In 1984, the Mules captured the NCAA Division II national basketball title with a victory against St. Augustine. Today, they will bid for national title No. 2 when they take on West Liberty at 2 p.m. (KRCG-TV) in Evansville, Ind.
Central Missouri (29-5) was ranked No. 20 in the country in the final National Association of Basketball Coaches poll of the regular season.
The Mules have three players average in double figures, led by Dillon Deck (6-9, jr.) with 13.7 points per game Daylen Robinson (6-0, sr.) and Charles Hammork (6-6, sr.) both total 12.9. Hammork tops the team in rebounds with 5.9 per contest, followed by Deck at 5.4.
West Liberty (31-3), located in West Liberty, W. Va., finished the regular season ranked No. 7 in the nation and average 100.6 points per game.
The Hilltoppers have seven players averaging in double figures in scoring, led by Cedric Harris at 17.8 points per game. Devin Hoehn (5-10, fr.) is next among the starters at 12.0, while Keene Cockburn is at 11.6. Players coming off the bench include Shawn Dyer (6-0, jr.) at 14.8, C.J. Hester (6-4 jr.) at 14.3, Kelvin Goodwin (6-0, soph.) at 10.8 and Segar Bonifant (6-6, soph.) at 10.4.
West Liberty has tossed up 1,033 3-point shots this season, hitting 414 (40.1 percent). The Hilltoppers shot 61 3-pointers in a game earlier this season against Point Park, finishing with 141 points. The fewest points West Liberty has scored in a game this season is 60.