Men's Basketball Tops Park on Buzzer-Beater Shot

Marshall, Mo. (Jan. 7, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams hosted Park (Mo.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday evening inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  The women's team pulled away in the second half for a 90-57 win.  The men's team overcame a double-digit deficit to win at the buzzer, 70-67.

The men's game began with the two teams trading points early in the contest.  Junior Kamari Slaughter (Gary, Ind.) scored the opening five points of the game for Missouri Valley, and a basket from Junior Devin Davenport (Milwaukee, Wisc.) tied the teams at 7-7 with four minutes played.  Slaughter added another layup moments later to send MVC in front at 9-7, and a jumper from Senior Antwon Ferrell (Newman, Ga.) kept the team on top, 13-11 just past the 14-minute mark.  Park responded with a 14-0 run over the next four minutes of play to move ahead, 25-13, midway through the half.  Ferrell ended the Viking drought with a three-pointer, and Davenport added a steal and fast-break dunk to trim the deficit down to 25-18 with less than eight minutes to play in the half.  The Pirates stretched their lead to double-digits moments later, but Davenport sank a three-pointer to help bring the gap down to single-digits, 28-21, as the clock went under seven minutes to play.  Park increased its lead over the next three-minute stretch, outscoring Missouri Valley by a 9-2 margin to hold a 37-23 advantage.  Ferrell scored the final five points of the half for MVC, but the team went into halftime trailing, 45-28.

The second half started with Missouri Valley holding Park scoreless through the opening two minutes, and using three points from Slaughter and a layup by Ferrell to work the gap down to 45-33.  The Pirates maintained a double-digit lead through a 51-39 score at the 16-minute mark.  The Vikings began to chip away at their deficit, and went on a 12-1 run over the next eight minutes of play.  Ferrell started the run with a three-point shot, and Junior Keanu Patrick (Biloxi, Miss.) added a layup.  Ferrell then recorded a three-point play, and had another layup midway through the half to continue the run.  Davenport capped things off with a jumper, and the team sat in a 52-51 deficit.  Park made a pair of free throws to put the score at 54-51, but MVC kept the comeback going.  Ferrell made another jump shot, while Slaughter blocked a shot and followed with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to send the team back in front, 56-54.  This was the first lead for the Vikings since a 13-11 score in the opening minutes of the first half.  The advantage moved to 58-54 near the five-minute mark after another Slaughter basket.  A layup from Davenport and two made free throws from Freshman Damario Moss (Lexington, Mo.) put the score at 62-55 moments later.  The Pirates worked back into the game over the next three minutes, and used three-straight made free throws to tie the contest at 67-67 going into the final minute of play.  The next possession for MVC ended with a turnover, and Park came up empty after missing two shots in the closing moments.  Slaughter came down with a late defensive rebound, and the Vikings had one more possession.  Moss got off a three-point attempt before the final buzzer, and made his shot just before time ran out.  Slaughter forced a turnover on Park's final in-bounds pass, and the Vikings earned a 70-67 win.

Ferrell led with 24 points, tying a season-high, to go with eight rebounds and six assists.  Both Slaughter and Davenport had 15 points apiece, and Moss added 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.  Missouri Valley forced 17 turnovers in the game, and shot over 53-percent from the floor in the second half, while limiting Park to 22-percent from the floor after halftime.

Missouri Valley improves to 11-5 on the season and 5-3 in the conference.  Park falls to 7-8 overall and 4-3 in the Heart.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams will host Grand View (Iowa) in a Heart doubleheader, Saturday afternoon inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  Women's game starts at 2 p.m., followed by the men's game at 4 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.