ST. LOUIS — Missouri Baptist University men's basketball extended its undefeated start to 7–0 on Saturday afternoon, outlasting Grand View University, 82–77, inside the Carl & Deloris Petty SRC to move to 3–0 in Heart of America play and hand the Vikings their first conference loss of the season.
"This was a win that's a statement nationally and a statement to the Heart of America Conference," said head coach Taylor Jarvis. "For me to be able to prove to myself that I can compete with some of the coaches in the Heart of America that got me last year — it was great."
The Spartans shot 52.6 percent from the field and placed four players in double figures, improving to 7–0 for the first time under head coach Taylor Jarvis and continuing one of the program's strongest starts in over a decade.
Javaris Moye led MBU with 18 points, three rebounds, and two blocks, while freshman guard Tristan Wiggins delivered another efficient performance with 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Merquiche Lewis added 14 points and five boards, and Austin Lewis gave the Spartans a major lift from the three-point line with 11 points shooting 3-4 from beyond the arc, six rebounds, and two blocks.
Drew Kegerreis contributed 6 points and 5 rebounds, and Preston Fortner added 9 points, two assists, and a block while guiding the offense through a possession-by-possession second half. Off the bench, Alex Wineholt and Tyson Williams combined for six rebounds as MBU outscored Grand View 41–36 after halftime.
Grand View entered the contest averaging 85.7 points per game but was held below its season average and fell to 7–3 overall and 2–1 in Heart play.
First Half
Both teams opened with pace and rhythm, trading baskets in a tight first half that featured five ties and four lead changes. Wiggins sparked MBU early with eight first-half points, while Moye scored 10 before the break, attacking downhill and converting consistently in the paint.
Grand View shot 50 percent in the first half — boosted by 26 combined points from Jaxson Young and Lukas Helms — but MBU matched the Vikings bucket for bucket, taking a 41–41 tie into the locker room.
Second Half
The Spartans seized momentum out of halftime, using defensive pressure and efficient interior scoring to build a two-possession lead. Austin Lewis delivered six second-half points and multiple key rebounds, while Wiggins knocked down a midrange jumper and a transition finish to extend the advantage.
Moye continued to produce in big moments, scoring eight after the break — including a pair of timely baskets as Grand View threatened late. The Spartans shot 53.8 percent in the second half, limited GVU to 36 points, and closed the game with strong rebounding and late defensive stops.
The decisive sequence came in the final moments. With 16 seconds left, Isaiah Dixon threw down a thunderous putback dunk off a missed Moye layup, electrifying the SRC crowd and pushing the lead to two possessions. Just four seconds later, with 12 seconds remaining, Dixon swatted away a Grand View layup attempt, sparking a breakout that ended in a Tristan Wiggins layup to seal the victory and send the building into a roar.
Up Next
MBU closes its four-game homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 25, hosting William Woods University at 7:30 p.m. inside the Carl & Deloris Petty SRC.
