OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Missouri Baptist University guard Preston Fortner has been named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring the Spartans' defense in a pair of conference victories over Missouri Valley College and No. 25 Graceland (Iowa).

Fortner, a senior from O'Fallon, Missouri, delivered a dominant all-around defensive performance, totaling four steals, three blocks, and nine rebounds while helping MBU secure wins in both contests.

His defensive impact was especially evident in the Spartans' 82–64 win over Missouri Valley on Feb. 11, where he recorded three steals and two blocks while adding five assists in 25 minutes. Fortner followed that effort with seven rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block in MBU's 75–67 victory over No. 25 Graceland on Feb. 14.

Fortner's defensive presence also helped neutralize opposing perimeter threats, most notably holding Missouri Valley's Carson Busch to just 2-of-16 shooting overall and 0-of-10 from 3-point range across the two games. His efforts further limited Graceland to its second-lowest point total of the season.

In addition to his defensive production, Fortner contributed offensively, averaging 8.5 points per game over the two-game stretch while shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line. He also averaged 5.5 assists per game, showcasing his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

Fortner's performance continues to highlight his role as one of the conference's most versatile and disruptive defenders, serving as a key piece in Missouri Baptist's success during Heart play.

Missouri Baptist returns to action this week as the Spartans continue conference competition.