Men's Basketball Holds Off Baker For Road Win

Baldwin City, Kan. (Feb. 16, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams traveled to Baldwin City, Kan., Monday evening, for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Baker (Kan.).  The Viking women's team built up a big lead in the first half, and finished out a 71-46 victory.  The men's team held off the Wildcats late for a 64-61 win.

The men's game started with Missouri Valley going in front, and building up a 10-0 lead in the opening two minutes of play.  Freshman Damario Moss (Lexington, Mo.) sank a pair of three-pointers, and Junior Kamari Slaughter (Gary, Ind.) chipped in with two layups during the early run.  The Vikings followed with a 9-2 run over another stretch of play early in the game.  After Baker made its first basket, Slaughter and Junior Devin Davenport (Milwaukee, Wisc.) each put in layups, followed by a three-pointer by Senior Antwon Ferrell (Newman, Ga.).  Ferrell then capped the run with another layup, and MVC sat on top, 19-5, with just over four minutes played.  Ferrell continued to add to the Viking advantage, this time with a three-point play near the 14-minute mark.  Davenport and Sophomore Darrin Thompson (Huntsville, Ala.) both made three-point shots midway through the half as the lead sat at 28-10.  Just over two minutes later, Davenport sank a pair of jumpers to make it a 34-14 score.  The Wildcats responded, and went on a 15-0 run over the next six minutes to cut the team's deficit down to 34-29.  The drought for MVC ended in the final seconds of the half, as Slaughter beat the buzzer with a layup to end scoring, and send Missouri Valley into halftime ahead, 36-29.

Scoring in the second half started quickly after play resumed, on a Davenport layup to put the lead at 38-29.  Missouri Valley went scoreless over the next nine minutes of play, as BU worked the deficit down to 38-36.  Slaughter ended the long scoreless streak for MVC with a three-point play, then Ferrell sank a three-pointer to give the team a 44-36 advantage midway through the half.  The advantage moved back to double-digits near the eight-minute mark, as Slaughter added a layup, Davenport sank a jumper and Ferrell put in a pair of free throw attempts to make it a 51-42 score.  The next field goal for the Vikings came more than four minutes later, on a layup from Moss, to put the lead at 55-45.  Baker worked back again, and eventually trailed, 55-53, with less than two minutes remaining.  Moss came down on the next MVC possession and sank a three-point shot, while Slaughter added a pair of free throws with less than one minute to play to put the lead at 60-54.  The Wildcats got to within a 60-57 deficit moments later, but four made free throws by Davenport in the final 31-seconds put the game out of reach for Baker.  The Vikings used those late free throws to secure a 64-61 win.

Davenport led four Vikings in double-figures with 19 points.  Slaughter had 17 points and nine rebounds, while Ferrel added 13 points.  Moss finished with 11 points.  Missouri Valley forced 16 turnovers in the game, including 11 steals.

Missouri Valley improves to 18-9 on the season and 12-7 in the Heart.  Baker drops to 10-16 overall and 8-10 in the conference.  The Vikings won the previous matchup this season, 95-71, back on Nov. 22.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams will close the regular season with a Senior Day doubleheader, at home, against William Penn (Iowa), 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.