ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University men's basketball hits the road for a pair of key Heart of America Athletic Conference matchups this week after a short 2-0 homestand. The Spartans are in Marshall, Mo., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, for a meeting with Missouri Valley College and end the week in Olathe, Kan., for a matchup at MidAmerica Nazarene University on Saturday, Jan. 31. 
 
Taylor Jarvis' squad is coming off a 95-88 victory on Jan. 21 over Hesston College and a 74-66 win over Park University on Jan. 23.
 
The Matchups
Wednesday, Jan. 28 — at Missouri Valley College
| 7:30 p.m. | Marshall, Mo. | Watch | Live Stats |

Saturday, Jan. 31 — vs. MidAmerica Nazarene University
| 4 p.m. | Olathe, Kan. | Watch | Live Stats |
 
Spartan Notables

• The Spartans are 3-2 over their last five games and 2-2 in conference play.
• Drew Kegerreis leads MBU in scoring over the last five, averaging 12.2 points per game while sporting a 48.1 shooting percentage from behind the arc.
• MBU's defense continues to be among the best in the conference, tied for the top mark in steals per game (8.7) and tied for second in blocks per game (4.0).
• Javaris Moye leads the conference in total steals with 46, with Preston Fortner in fourth at 37 steals.
• Austin Lewis leads the conference in total blocks with 34, with Isaiah Dixon in fourth at 26 blocks.
• The Spartans currently sit third in the Heart with an 8-4 conference record and a 14-6 overall record.

Missouri Valley College Preview
The Vikings enter Wednesday night's game at 14-6 overall and tied with the Spartans in conference play at 8-4. They are winners in seven of their last eight games and rebounded from a 97-92 double-overtime home loss to Grand View University on Jan. 10, with a three-game conference winning streak.
 
MVC's offense is tied for the 10^th highest scoring average at 74.8, but has allowed the second fewest PPG to their opponents in the league (70.8). Despite being tied for 10^th in scoring, they have the league's top individual scorer in 6-2 junior Devin Davenport, who is averaging 22.6 PPG and is coming off a 29-point performance (7-13 FG) in his last outing.
 
MBU is 6-2 in its last eight contests against MVC, dating back to 2008. In the previous meeting, the Vikings bested the Spartans 65-51 in Marshall, Mo., on Jan. 2, 2023.
 
MidAmerica Nazarene University Preview
Heading into the week, the Pioneers are 10-10 overall and 5-7 in the conference (11^th place). They are sixth in the league in scoring (77.8 PPG) and are allowing 76.8 PPG to their opponents.
 
MNU has lost four of its last five conference games, with the only win in the span coming from a 75-63 road win at William Woods University on Jan. 14. Last week, the Pioneers were edged out 68-66 by Peru State College on the road before dropping another contest on Monday, Jan. 26, 72-65 to No. 20 Graceland University.
 
The Spartans and Pioneers have met only twice in recent history, with MNU holding a 2-0 series advantage. They defeated MBU 95-61 on Oct. 29, 2022, in Olathe, Kan., and followed up with an 87-80 victory on Nov. 9, 2024.
 
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