Jan. 9, 2008

Written by Chris Allen - Marshall Democrat-News Sports Editor

MARSHALL, Mo. -- Even when it started the season with 11 straight losses, the Missouri Valley College faithful felt that the men's basketball team had potential, if only the talented pieces could be fit together.

The combination head coach Chad Lance put together Monday (Jan. 7) worked well enough for the Vikings to hand No. 1 ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), the defending NAIA Division II champion, its first loss of the season, 79-78, in the Burns Athletic Center. The Pioneers had a chance to extend or win the game at the end, but couldn't capitalize and dropped from the Heart of America Conference lead.

Valley had its best shooting night of the current campaign, making 56.9 percent of its attempts from the field. Meanwhile, MidAmerica -- second in the NAIA at 53.7-percent efficiency from the floor -- made only nine of 29 shots during the first half.

A pair of three-point plays by senior Boman Mullings, one of his own offensive rebound and the second following a steal by senior Jay Elam, and a jumper by sophomore Rouven Haenig gave the Vikings an early seven-point lead. However, they couldn't hold it, the Pioneers rallying to surge ahead on junior Brandon Cameron's outside jumper.

Still, Valley closed the first half strongly, Mullings and junior Caleb Moon connecting from outside and Haenig scoring inside for a 41-36 edge at the break.

Haenig drained a trey to put the Vikings up by 10 in the opening minutes of the second half, but all-America senior Adam Hepker hit three shots during a 10-1 MidAmerica run which tied the score.

It was a seesaw battle the rest of the way. Valley fell behind by a point, but got back on top on two free throws by junior Brandon Toliver following an offensive rebound. Moon sank a pair of charity shots to make it 75-72 after an MNU offensive foul.

Hepker made a lay-up, but Toliver posted up. Sophomore Brenton Bell scored, but Moon fed Haenig down low. Cameron sank the front end of a one-and-one to cut the Pioneers' deficit to two, where it remained when Haenig missed two charities with 10 seconds remaining.

Toliver blocked a potential game-tying shot from Hepker, but the ball went out of bounds and MidAmerica retained possession. When junior Austin Boots was fouled on a three-point try at the buzzer, the Pioneers had a chance to pull out the win.

Boots made his first attempt, but the next two went awry -- as did MidAmerica's perfect season.

Hepker finished with 39 points to lead all scorers, but the Pioneers (14-1, 4-1 HAAC) shot only four of 10 from the free-throw line during the second half and were out-scored in the paint, 44-36, during the game.

Mullings' 21 points led Valley's balanced attack. Toliver had 17 points, Moon came off the bench for 15 and Haenig contributed 13 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Whether this will be the breakout win for which the Vikings (3-13, 3-2) have long sought is yet to be determined, but they should head to Central Methodist for Thursday's HAAC contest with a boost of confidence.