Men's Basketball Tops MidAmerica Nazarene on the Road

Olathe, Kan., (Jan. 3, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College basketball teams opened the new year with a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Saturday afternoon.  The women's team fell to the No. 11 Pioneers, 47-38, while the men's team earned a 76-62 victory.

Scoring in the men's game began with a pair of baskets from Senior Antwon Ferrell (Newman, Ga.) to give Missouri Valley a 4-0 advantage with three minutes played.  MidAmerica Nazarene followed with a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to move in front, 9-6.  Junior Devin Davenport (Milwaukee, Wisc.) made his first field goal of the contest, while Freshman Damario Moss (Lexington, Mo.) scored five points to send MVC back on top, 13-12, with eight minutes played.  The Pioneers responded with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 20-13 lead.  The Vikings eventually sat in a 24-15 deficit near the seven-minute mark, but came through with a run.  Junior Keanu Patrick (Biloxi, Miss.) started the stretch with a field goal, while Moss added a three-pointer.  Junior Kamari Slaughter (Gary, Ind.) sank another three-point shot, and Freshman Shalva Meunargia (Tbilis, Georgia) made a jumper.  The 12-0 run continued on a Moss field goal, and was capped on a Davenport free throw as Missouri Valley held a 28-24 lead with three minutes to play in the half.  MidAmerica Nazarene moved in front as the half came to an end, and put MVC in a 34-32 deficit at halftime.

Play in the second half opened with five points scored by Slaughter to go with a field goal from Patrick and made three-pointers by Moss and Meunargia.  The Vikings forced five turnovers during an 11-0 run to start the half which helped put the team in front, 45-34, with four minutes played.  The lead grew to 49-35 over the next minute as Davenport and Ferrell each added field goals.  The two teams traded points over the next stretch, which featured four points from Davenport, and one field goal apiece from Junior Ryan Lewis (Fontana, Calif.), Moss and Patrick to make it a 59-47 score midway through the quarter.   The next basket for MVC was a three-pointer by Moss, while Slaughter and Davenport baskets moved the advantage to 66-49 near the eight-minute mark.  The Pioneers were held to only two points over a more than five minute stretch late in the quarter.  Davenport added the final five points in the game for Missouri Valley and helped secure a 76-62 victory.

Davenport led with 21 points to go with six rebounds.  Moss had 18 points and six rebounds, while Slaughter had 16 points.  Ferrell totaled eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists.  Missouri Valley held a 38-34 advantage in rebounds and forced 18 turnovers.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 9-5 overall and 4-3 in the Heart.  MidAmerica Nazarene falls to 9-7 on the season and 4-4 in the conference.

The men's team will play a non-conference game against Central Christian of the Bible (Mo.), Monday at 6 p.m., inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  Both teams will host Park (Mo.), Wednesday in a Heart doubleheader inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  Women's game starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here

About Missouri Valley College

Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.