MARSHALL, Mo. – MBU Men's Basketball grinded out a 75-74 road victory over Missouri Valley on Saturday. The Spartans completed the season sweep of MVC after a 10-point victory 11 days ago and improved to 4-2 overall.
 
The Spartans overcame a poor offensive showing in the first half and trailed by just six (38-32) at the intermission. The game was tied 10 different times in the opening period before the Vikings used a late 8-2 run to lead going into the locker room.
 
The early part of the second half saw both offenses come to a screeching halt. At the 10 minute mark, the Spartans had scored just five points in the half. But due to Missouri Valley also struggling to score, the game was still within reason at 47-37.
 
A bucket by Tyrell Andrews at 9:44 seemed to take the lid off the basket for MBU. A 10-3 run followed to trim it back to 50-47 MVC. The Vikings continued to miss from the field and the Spartans would grab the lead back at 55-54 with 2:38 left.
 
Still, it took a free throw make from Andrews with 16 seconds to even it up at 58 and the game would proceed to and through a five-minute overtime.
 
The second extra period once again came down to the wire. The Spartans trailed 74-73 with under a minute to go. Off a miss from down low in the paint, Brendon Hardy charged forward to grab the offensive board and convert the put-back with 15 seconds left. After a timeout by Missouri Valley, Gerald Moore came up with a steal to preserve a one-point, 75-74 victory.
 
The Spartans were led offensively by John Yaeger who finished with 14 points and completed the double-double with 11 rebounds. The senior from St. Louis also had three steals.
 
Despite an off-night from behind the three-point line, Brendon Hardy delivered 10 of his 13 points in the second half and overtime. He and Yaeger were joined in double figures by Tyrell Andrews with 11.
 
With the three-ball not falling for most of the night, the Spartans were extra reliant on the inside game where River Reed and freshman Mujtaba Alkhaldi resided. Reed narrowly missed a double-double of his own with 12 rebounds and nine points. Alkhaldi made his first career start and finished with nine points, four rebounds, and three blocks.
 
Now sitting at 4-2 overall, the Spartans will have an extended chance to rest and return to full health. The next scheduled action isn't until December 8 against Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan.