ST. LOUIS — Missouri Baptist University men's basketball (11–5, 6–3 Heart) returns to Heart of America Conference play this week with a pair of league matchups, beginning with a home contest Wednesday night against the Central Methodist University Eagles before traveling to face the William Penn University Statesmen on Saturday.
The Spartans enter the week looking to bounce back following a 76–68 setback to Peru State College on Saturday, while both Central Methodist and William Penn sit near the top half of the Heart standings as conference play intensifies in mid-January.
The Matchups
Wednesday, Jan. 14 — vs. Central Methodist University
7:30 p.m. CT | Carl & Deloris Petty SRC | St. Louis, Mo.
Saturday, Jan. 17 — at William Penn University
4:00 p.m. CT | Penn Gym | Oskaloosa, Iowa
Central Methodist Preview
Central Methodist enters Wednesday's matchup with an 11–6 overall record and a 5–4 mark in Heart play. The Eagles boast one of the league's most efficient offenses, ranking second in the conference at 83.1 points per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field.
Wednesday marks just the second all-time meeting between the two programs and the first since 2013. Central Methodist claimed an 82–68 win in the lone previous meeting at a neutral site, while Wednesday's contest will serve as the first matchup between the two as members of the Heart of America Conference and CMU's first visit to the Carl & Deloris Petty SRC.
William Penn Preview
MBU will face another high-powered offense on Saturday when it travels to William Penn. The Statesmen are 12–5 overall and 6–3 in Heart play and enter the week riding a three-game winning streak.
William Penn leads the Heart of America Conference in scoring at 93.4 points per game, presenting a significant challenge for the Spartans on the road. Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between the two programs since 2020 and their first matchup as conference opponents in the Heart.
Spartan Start
MBU sits at 11–5 overall and 6–3 in conference play through 16 games this season. The Spartans are averaging 77.7 points per game while holding opponents to 73.6 points per contest, owning a +4.1 scoring margin on the year.
MBU is shooting 46.2 percent from the field and outrebounding opponents by a +2.7 margin, while also forcing 13.8 turnovers per game. Defensively, the Spartans average 8.7 steals and 3.9 blocks per contest, ranking among the Heart's most disruptive units.
Leading the Way
MBU continues to rely on a balanced lineup led by its veteran core.
Javaris Moye leads the Spartans at 19.0 points per game while adding 4.5 rebounds and a team-high 40 steals, serving as both the offensive leader and defensive catalyst. Merquiche Lewis provides consistent interior production, averaging 13.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the field.
Preston Fortner averages 9.9 points per game and leads the team with 50 assists, while Drew Kegerreis (8.7 ppg), Tristan Wiggins (8.2 ppg), and Isaiah Dixon (6.7 ppg, team-high 20 blocks) add scoring depth and defensive versatility across the lineup.
