Men's Basketball Tops Culver-Stockton on the Road

Canton, Mo., (Feb. 14, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball team traveled to Canton, Mo., for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader with Culver-Stockton (Mo.), Saturday afternoon. The women's team fell by a 56-41 final score, while the men's team pulled away in the second half and earned a 79-65 win.

The men's game started with Missouri Valley going in front early, as Junior Kamari Slaughter (Gary, Ind.) made a jumper, Senior Antwon Ferrell (Newman, Ga.) added a three-pointer, and Freshman Shalva Meunargia (Tbilisi, Georgia) made a layup to give the team a 7-3 advantage with nearly three minutes into the game.  Missouri Valley increased their lead, as Slaughter scored seven points and Ferrell made a jump shot just over the next four minutes to make it a 16-10 score.  The Vikings used a free throw from Sophomore Darrian Thompson (Huntsville, Ala.), and a basket each from Ferrell and Slaughter to maintain the team's advantage, 21-12, midway through the half.  Teams traded points over the next stretch of play, which included three points from Ferrell, a layup and block from Junior Keanu Patrick (Biloxi, Miss.) and a jumper from Thompson, holding MVC's lead, 28-20.  The Wildcats kept the scoreboard close through the rest of the half, but Slaughter went on run and added 13-straight points for the Vikings in the final seven minutes of play to help send the team into halftime in front, 40-36.

Play in the second half started with a quick jumper and a three-pointer from Ferrell with just over a minute played after the restart.  Slaughter followed with a steal and layup moments later to put the score at 47-38. The advantage grew to double-digits over the next three minutes, helped by a jumper and dunk from Patrick, a three point shot from Freshman Damario Moss (Lexington, Mo.), and a pair of free throws from Slaughter to make it a 58-46 score near the 13-minute mark.  Teams traded points through the next stretch of play, and the Wildcats worked the gap down to single-digits, 63-55, with just under nine minutes remaining in the contest.  Both teams were held scoreless through the next two minutes, Patrick ended the drought with back-to-back field goals, and Meunargia sank a three-pointer to increase their advantage to 70-58, with just over four minutes left. The next made baskets came from Slaughter and Meunargia maintaining MVC's double-digit lead, 75-62.  The Vikings used a pair of free throws from Slaughter and Ferrell in the closing minute, and Missouri Valley eventually finished out a 79-65 win.

Leading the way was Slaughter, who scored a season-high 33 points, to go with six rebounds.  Ferrell followed with 20 points and five rebounds.  Meunargia finished with 10 points, and Patrick came off the bench to score 10 points and grab six rebounds.  Missouri Valley held a 32-30 advantage in rebounds, and limited Culver-Stockton to 39-percent shooting from the floor.

Missouri Valley improves to 17-9 overall and 11-7 in the Heart.  Culver-Stockton drops to 5-21 on the season and 2-16 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking men's and women's basketball team will travel to Baldwin City, Mo., for a Heart doubleheader with Baker (Kan.), Monday.  Make-up from Jan. 24.  Women's game 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.