By Daijah White / Sports Editor

The Missouri Valley College men’s basketball program has secured its first winning season in six years, marking a milestone for a team that has undergone significant change since last summer.

Head Coach Jim Boone took over in July 2025 with just two returning players. He rebuilt the roster and led the Vikings to their first season above .500 since 2020. 

Boone said the team has not focused on ending the six-year stretch of losing seasons.

“We are just trying to be the best we can be this year and create a foundation for us to move forward with,” Boone said. 

The Vikings opened their season with a win against the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in late October. Their current record is 16-8 overall and 10-6 in conference. With four games left in regular season play, the Vikings are sitting in a position to possibly host a playoff game, have a winning record in the conference and to finish the season with 20 wins. 

“Our growth has been exponential,” Boone said. “First, it starts with our leadership.” 

Senior Antwon Ferrell and Junior Devon Davenport have played key roles in leading the Vikings throughout this season. 

“We always talk about how a coach-led team can be good,” Boone said. “But a player-led team can be special.”

That leadership has helped establish habits that have carried MVC through the season.

One aspect Boone said the Vikings took some time to recognize is the importance of hard work. Looking at the Vikings from the beginning of the season to now, fans can see that growth.

Although the team’s goals and culture have remained the same, Davenport and Ferrell said there has been a mental shift within the program.

“We’ve become a lot more calm and we just take it as it goes one day at a time,” Davenport said. 

That approach has helped the Vikings navigate both wins and losses.

“I just feel like everybody is willing to buy in,” Ferrell said. “We have a bond on and off the court so I feel like that helps our chemistry.”

Ferrell said the team views each other as brothers, which allows players to communicate openly without taking things personally.

Boone and his team all have a clear understanding of their goals, and this milestone is simply a stepping stone for the Vikings. 

“Its always been one goal,” Davenport said. “To be champions by the end.” 

The Vikings’ next game is at home against William Penn on Saturday. Valley comes into the game with a conference record of 12-7, while William Penn sits at 15-4. The last time the teams met was in December, when the Statesmen narrowly beat the Vikings, 92-90.