The Buena Vista men's basketball will close out the first half of the Iowa Conference schedule tonight looking to win its fifth straight game and remain atop the IIAC standings when it hosts Luther College at 8:00pm inside of Siebens Fieldhouse.

The Beavers kept pace with Coe College by winning a pair of road games last week against Central College and Wartburg College, respectively.  They now return home to play five of their next six contests which could be key as the team is 5-1 on its home court this season, including a five-game win streak.

The Norse are also bringing momentum into the game having won back-to-back contests following an 0-4 start in confernce play.  The team went on the road last Wednesday to edge Simpson College, 62-56,  before returning home on Saturday to defeat Loras College, 72-64.  Luther is only 2-8 away from home this season.

BVU is 192-39 all-time inside of Siebens Fieldhouse under coach Brian Van Haaften.  Over its last four home contests, the Beavers have scored at least 85 points three times, including 85 points against the University of Dubuque the last time it took the court.

During IIAC play, Van Haaften's team is shooting nearly 46 percent from the field, while holding opponents to only 37.6 percent.  The perimeter defense has been even tougher, as teams have made only 26.9 percent of its three-point attempts thus far.  Luther enters ranked second in three-point makes (53).

The Norse have also done a good job of getting to the free-throw line and making the most of those opportunities.  The team comes in with the third-highest attempts during league play (121) and sits second by making 76 percent of those.

Luther took both meetings between the two teams last season, including a high-scoring 95-85 contest in Storm Lake.  The Beavers have gone 8-1 on their home court since that loss.

GAME NOTES