Men's Basketball Tops Columbia at Home

Marshall, Mo., (Dec. 13, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College men's basketball team hosted Columbia (Mo.) inside the Burns Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game.  The Vikings held off Columbia for a 70-66 win.

Missouri Valley jumped in front early in the game, as Freshman Damario Moss (Lexington, Mo.) put in the opening basket of the contest, followed by eight points from Junior Devin Davenport (Milwaukee, Wisc.) to give the team a 10-2 advantage with four minutes played.  Columbia was held without a field goal through a nearly five-minute stretch of play, as the MVC lead sat at 13-6 just past the 13-minute mark.  Davenport followed with a field goal, and Moss added another basket to put Missouri Valley on top by double-digits, 17-7, with less than 12-minutes remaining in the first half.  Senior Antwon Ferrell (Newman, Ga.) added another basket midway through the half as the score sat at 21-10.  The Cougars responded with a run, outscoring MVC by a 10-3 margin over the next four minutes to trail, 23-20.  Davenport ended the Viking drought with a pair of free throws moments later, but Columbia eventually tied the teams, 25-25, at the four-minute mark.  Moss came back with a jumper on the next Missouri Valley possession to send the team back in front, while CC took its first lead of the game moments later, at 28-27.  The Vikings held Columbia scoreless over the final three minutes of play in the half.  Two late baskets came from Sophomore Darrin Thompson (Huntsville, Ala.) to finish out scoring in the half, and MVC went into halftime on top, 31-28.

The second half began with Columbia taking the lead two minutes after the restart.  Missouri Valley responded with a three-pointer by Moss to tie the game, and a layup from Junior Keanu Patrick (Biloxi, Miss.) reclaiming the lead, 38-36, near the 15-minute mark.  The two teams traded points through a 50-42 score with 12-minutes remaining in the contest, which featured a three-pointer each from Davenport and Moss, and a layup from Junior Cael Simpson (Gold Coast, Australia).  The Vikings kept Columbia scoreless over the next five minutes, where MVC continued to extend their lead, as Freshman Shalva Meunargia (Tbilis, Georgia) made a layup, and both Davenport and Thompson added a jumper each to make it a double-digit advantage, 58-42.  The Cougars answered back with a run, outscoring MVC by a 13-1 margin over the next four minutes to cut into their deficit, 59-55.  Thompson ended the MVC drought with a three point shot near the three-minute mark to hold the Vikings lead, 62-55.  Columbia closed the gap down with nearly two minutes left in the contest, but a three-pointer from Thompson kept the Vikings ahead, 65-60.  Both teams continued to stay close through the final minutes, but a three point shot from Davenport, and two free throws from Ferrell, with under a minute left, secured a 70-66 victory.

Davenport led with 22 points to go with five rebounds, and five assists.  Ferrell had his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, along with seven assists.  Moss followed with 15 points, while Thompson came off the bench to score 13 points.  Missouri Valley shot over 55-percent from the floor.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 8-5 on the season while Columbia drops to 10-2 overall.

Up next, the Viking men's basketball team will travel to Tahlequah, Okla., for a non-conference game against Northeastern State (Okla.), Wednesday. 

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.