FAYETTE, Mo. (Interstat) — A pair of NAIA men’s basketball teams riding winning streaks will clash Saturday when the Central Methodist Eagles host the Mount Mercy Mustangs at Puckett Field House.

The Eagles (14-9) have won three of their last four, including a 77-72 road victory at Missouri Valley on Wednesday. The Mustangs (12-11) have won three straight, most recently a 96-85 win at Clarke (Iowa) on Wednesday.

The matchup features two of the Heart of America Athletic Conference’s top performers. Mount Mercy will lean on guard Jaxson Fried, who is averaging 24.1 points over his last seven games. He poured in 27 points with eight rebounds and four assists in the win over Clarke.

Central Methodist counters with guard Isaiah Bonaparte, who is coming off a 21-point, five-rebound, six-assist performance against Missouri Valley. His playmaking will be key against a Mount Mercy defense that has allowed an average of 84.3 points in its last three outings.

The Mustangs’ recent surge has been fueled by offense, scoring 89 or more points in all three wins during their streak. Alongside Fried, Brayson Laube added 25 points against Clarke. The Eagles have found success with balance, as evidenced by Tyson Oghene’s 18 points and Raphael Gay’s 11 points and eight rebounds in their last game.

Central Methodist holds the overall season edge, but both teams enter with momentum. The Eagles will look to protect their home court, where they are 8-2 this season, while the Mustangs aim to continue their climb above .500.

The game tips off at 4 p.m. Central time on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.