By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Playing for the second time in 24 hours, the Poplar Bluff Mules led wire to wire Saturday against the top-ranked team from St. Louis.

The Mules hit 11-of-18 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off McCluer 61-57 in the Pepsi Showcase at the Show-Me Center.

"Just proud of our guys to play through a tough weekend," Mules coach Lamont Frazier said.

Riley Raulston scored 23 points while Chris Kilgore added 15 and Jay Raulston chipped in 14 for the Mules (2-0).

McCluer, ranked the top large school by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to start the season, returns three double-figure scorers from a team that finished 16-9 last season. Lonnie Boga, a 6-3 senior who has signed to play at Wisconsin-Milwaukee next fall, scored 18 points to lead the Comets (0-1).

The previous night, the Mules knocked off one of the top teams from Memphis but fatigue didn't seem to be much of a factor, Frazier said.

"For us to win, we've got to exude a lot of energy," he added. "You can't be afraid to go out and lose, you've got to go out and play hard."

Poplar Bluff never trailed but there were six ties in the first half and the Mules saw their eight point lead early in the fourth quarter cut down to 56-53 with just under 2 minutes to play.

Jay Raulston answered and the Mules got a pair of defensive rebounds before Riley Raulston sank a pair of free throws for a 60-53 advantage.

Boga scored with a minute left and the Comets got a putback on a third chance to pull within four with 29 seconds left, but McCluer missed in the final 13 seconds as Poplar Bluff held on to win.

"Fatigue comes into play, not just us but everybody is going through it," Frazier said. "Experience won these first two games for us."

Ben Knuckles scored seven points, hitting 5-of-6 free throws, while Todd Bullington added two points.

After not hitting a shot from the field Friday, Jay Raulston scored the first points of the game Saturday. Riley Raulston's 3-pointer gave the Mules a 9-4 lead but the Comets tied the game at 13-13 heading into the second quarter.

Kilgore broke a 21-21 tie midway through the second quarter and later scored in transition but McCluer pulled within a point in the final minute of the half. Jay scored from the post and Knuckles hit two free throws in the final second of the half to give the Mules a 31-26 lead.

Riley, who hit seven 3-pointers Friday night, hit consecutive 3s midway through the third quarter to give the Mules a 40-32 lead. Boga, however, kept the Comets close and Poplar Bluff led 46-40 after three quarters before Jay opened the fourth with a basket for the Mules' largest lead.

McCluer answered with a putback and cut the deficit to four before Kilgore got to the free throw line, hitting both, setting the tone for the final 6 minutes.

"We've had those glaring moments when we've given up way to many easy baskets," Frazier said. "I think it's there (the defense). We've got to get to the point to where we can maintain for long periods of time."

Last year at the same event, the Mules upset state-ranked Ft. Zumwalt South 57-49, which finished the season third in Class 5.

The Mules will face another challenge a week from today when they face Hickman at Columbia College, then open the SEMO Conference Tournament two days later.

"Our guys are to be commended for (this weekend) but in the same breath not get complacent," Frazier said.

Notes: Poplar Bluff's junior varsity team won the consolation title at the Notre Dame Tournament, beating Jackson on Saturday. Results were not available at presstime.