CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – For the first time in program history MBU bowling hosted the NAIA Unaffiliated Group Conference Tournament with hopes of earning an automatic bid in front of the local crowd.
 
The first day of competition consisted of 24 baker games that were used to determine seeding for day two's double elimination baker tournament. Men's bowling remained very consistent on their way to a three seed for the baker tournament, averaging 207.17 pins-per-game. The Spartans had a tournament best four game stretch in games 17-20, where they averaged 239 pins-per-game.
 
Women's bowling earned a six seed going into the double elimination baker tournament averaging 177.38 pins-per-game, scoring their best in games 13-16 where they averaged 199.75 pins-per-game over the four games. With their six seed, the MBU women were matched up against the eventual tournament champions and third seeded SCAD Savannah. The Spartans dropped the first match in three games but then made a miraculous run through the consolation bracket defeating Rio Grande in three games, Columbia in six games, and SCAD Atlanta in three games to make the consolation finals. Against Columbia, MoBap tied the first game, dropped the next two and found themselves in a major hole. With their backs against the wall MBU won three straight games to put away Columbia and advance.
 
In the consolation finals women's bowling faced familiar foe SCAD Savannah with hopes of a different outcome. MBU won the first game 190-140 before dropping game two 189-152. The Spartans continued their heroics taking game three 206-194. One win away from advancing into the Championship finals MoBap was only a few pins away during the 10^th frame from ending the match in four games. A nasty split remained after the first throw with the Spartans needing to knock over every pin to earn the third ball which would have all but guaranteed a Spartan victory. The split proved to be the heartbreaker as SCAD Savannah took game four 213-207 and used that momentum to put away the Spartans 215-171 in game 5.
 
MBU men's bowling was less fortunate during their double elimination bracket as many first-round upsets led to a complicated consolation bracket. Seventh seeded Lincoln College upset the second seeded and returning NAIA national champions St. Francis (Ill.) in the opening round as MBU was upset by the sixth seeded Rio Grande in five games.
 
In the first round of the consolation bracket due to the upsets, the Spartans were pitted against the reigning NAIA national champions and eventual conference champions. St. Francis (Ill.) would not be denied against the Spartans despite an early deficit. MBU won the first two games looking for the upset and to keep their hopes alive. The Fighting Saints refused to go down as they swept the last three games while averaging 228 pins-per-game to take the match in five. St. Francis (Ill.) went on to win the conference tournament ending all their remaining matches in four games or less.