Men's Basketball Overcomes Halftime Deficit in Win Over Mount Mercy

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (November 29, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wednesday evening, for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Mount Mercy (Iowa).The men's team overcame a halftime deficit to win, 71-68.

The men's game started with Mount Mercy going in front by a 4-0 score, then increasing the advantage out to 11-2 with just over three minutes played.  Senior Vincent Taylor (Dallas, Texas) answered with a three-pointer, but MMU extended its advantage to double-digits, 15-5, over the next minute of play.  Junior Runelvys Hernandez (Independence, Mo.) cut the deficit with a three-pointer, followed by a basket from Junior Cawhan Smith (Collinsville, Ill.).  Senior Keenan Jones (Chicago, Ill.) sank one free throw to cap a quick 6-0 run for MVC and pull the team into a 15-11 score near the 13-minute mark.  The Mustangs responded and outscored Missouri Valley by a 9-2 margin over the next six minutes of play to make it 24-13.  Taylor ended the drought with a layup, and Junior Jarrius Burnett (Warrenton, Ga.) made a jump shot.  Jones added a field goal, and Junior Geovonni Floyd (Bowling Green, Ky.) sank two attempts from the free throw line to to finish an 8-0 run and pull the team into a 24-21 deficit with six minutes to play in the half.  Taylor added a three-point play, and Junior J'Luan Patterson (Belleville, Ill.) put in a layup to make it a 28-26 score at the four-minute mark.  A three-pointer from Burnett got the team into a 31-29 gap, but MMU finished out the half with the final five points to make it a 36-29 score at the break.

Missouri Valley cut into its deficit at the start of the second half, as Floyd made a pair of free throws and Smith added a layup, as the gap sat at 36-33, in the first minute of play after the restart.  Junior David Ajanaku (Ondo, Nigeria) made two free throws, and Burnett finished off a layup to make it a 38-37 deficit over the next three minutes.  The rally was complete moments later after a steal from Smith and a fast-break dunk by Floyd to give MVC its first lead of the game, 39-38, with less than four minutes played.  Mount Mercy answered back to go on top, 42-39 near the 15-minute mark.  Patterson put in a pair of free throws and Junior Logan Walker (Lebam, Wash.) sank a three-pointer to tie the teams at 44-44 over the next minute.  Patterson gave Missouri Valley a 46-45 advantage with a basket, and Smith extended the lead to 49-45 with a three-pointer as the clock hit 14 minutes remaining in the game.  The Mustangs responded and eventually went back on top, 53-51 during the next two minute stretch.  Another Walker three-pointer and a layup from Smith helped MVC move ahead once again, 56-53, midway through the half.  Mount Mercy responded with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to claim a 61-56 lead.  The Mustangs remained ahead, and made it a 65-60 score near the three-minute mark.  Walker added two made free throws, while Burnett sank a three-pointer to tie the teams at 65-65 moments later.  Mount Mercy briefly went on top, 68-67, but two free throws from Patterson moved Missouri Valley into a 69-68 lead in the final minute.  The Mustangs missed a late three-pointer, and a layup, and Patterson ended the game with two late free throws to secure a 71-68 win.

Taylor led with 13 points, while both Burnett and Patterson totaled 12 points and six rebounds.  Smith added 10 points, seven steals and six rebounds.  Missouri Valley forced 18 turnovers and finished 17-20 from the free throw line.

Missouri Valley improves to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the Heart.  Mount Mercy drops to 1-6 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.

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

About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.