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

Marshall, Mo. (Jan. 17, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams welcomed in Mount Mercy (Iowa) for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  The Viking women's basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 76-61 victory, while the men's team overcame a halftime deficit to earn an 80-71 win.

Mount Mercy jumping out to a 6-0 lead with just over two minutes played to start the men's game.  The first field goal of the game for Missouri Valley came from Junior Kamari Slaughter (Gary, Ind.), but the Mustangs eventually built a 12-3 advantage near the 14-minute mark.  The Viking deficit eventually grew to 17-5 one minute later.  Senior Antwon Ferrell (Newman, Ga.) began a run for MVC with a three-pointer, followed by a jumper from Freshman Damario Moss (Lexington, Mo.).  Moss then came up with a steal, which led to a Ferrell basket, while defensively, the Vikings added another steal by Junior Anthony Leath (Westmoreland, Tenn.) and a block from Junior Cael Simpson (Gold Coast Australia).  The 9-0 run was capped by a Ferrell jump shot, and Missouri Valley worked its deficit down to 17-14 near the midway point of the first half.  Just over one minute later, Moss sank a three-point shot to shrink the gap to 20-18, and the two teams traded points over the next several minutes.  Missouri Valley got to within a 27-26 score after a pair of free throws by Freshman Shalva Meunargia (Tbilisi, Georgia) with just over five minutes to play in the half.  Mount Mercy stayed in front, and eventually stretched its lead out to 38-32 near the three-minute mark.  Ferrell scored the final five points of the half for the Vikings, but the team trailed at the break, 41-37.

Missouri Valley began the second half on a run, outscoring MMU by a 13-0 margin through the opening five minutes.  Moss started the stretch with a layup, followed by four points from Slaughter.  Simpson added one made free throw, and Slaughter added the next six points to help push the team ahead, 50-42.  Mount Mercy responded with an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to pull back in front, 53-52.  Junior Devin Davenport (Milwaukee, Wisc.) ended the stretch with a three-pointer to take the lead back for MVC, then added a layup.  Both Junior Ryan Lewis (Fontana, Calif.) and Moss made one free throw apiece, and the Vikings built up a 59-53 advantage midway through the half.  The Mustangs were held to one field goal through a three-minute stretch, as layups from both Davenport and Slaughter pushed the lead to 65-57 with just over five minutes to play in the game.  Mount Mercy scored five-straight points to make it a one-possession game, but Davenport answered with five-straight points to make it a 70-62 score less than one minute later.  The next four points for MVC came on Moss layups, while Slaughter added another basket and Ferrell sank two free throws to give the team a double-digit advantage, 78-68, near the final minute.  Missouri Valley stopped MMU on four-straight possession late in the game, and Ferrell sealed the win with another pair of made free throws, as the Vikings earned an 80-71 win.

Ferrell led with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Slaughter added 16 points and eight rebounds.  Moss totaled 16 points and five rebounds and Davenport finished with 12 points and four rebounds.  Missouri Valley forced Mount Mercy into 11 turnovers and finished with a 42-34 advantage in rebounds.

Missouri Valley moves to 13-6 on the season and 7-4 in the Heart.  Mount Mercy falls to 9-9 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams will host William Woods (Mo.) in a Heart doubleheader, Wednesday evening inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  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.