STORM LAKE, Iowa (November 24, 2021) - Senior Michael Demers scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the second to lead three players in double figures, but it wouldn't be quite enough as the Buena Vista men's basketball team was handed an 81-65 loss in the team's home opener on Wednesday afternoon inside of Siebens Fieldhouse.

Demers, who fell three points shy of  reaching 1,000 in his career, finished 7-of-16 from the field and 2-of-8 from long range while also dishing out four assists.  Fellow senior Garrett Sittner added 14 points and six rebounds while sophomore Zane Neubaum chipped in with 12 points and two assists.  Amun-Ra Collins led the Beavers off the bench with six points and three rebounds.

BVU connected on back-to-back three-point shots and then a layup from Demers to build an 8-0 lead in the opening minutes, but then went just 4-of-24 from behind the arc the rest of the game.  Saint John's then went on a 24-3 run over the next eight minutes to build a 24-11 lead and never looked back.  The Johnnies maintained that double-digit lead right into halftime where they were in front 43-38.

Saint John's extended the margin to 20 at 58-38 near the midway point of the second half before the Beavers slowly clawed their way back.  Demers made one of his two three-point shots in the game to pull BVU within 65-53 with over six minutes still to play, but the Johnnies, who made 10-of-23 from distance in the game, responded with a big one late in the shot clock on the ensuing possession.  Sittner made a tough and-one on BVU's next trip down the floor to keep it a 12-point deficit, but Colton Codute made his second straight triple to bump it back to 15.  Demers made his second three-pointer to keep BVU within striking distance at 71-59 with just over five minutes left, but Saint John's connected on two more deep shots to secure the first win in what was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Ryan Thissen made 8-of-14 shot attempts from the field as well as all five shots from the charity strip to lead the Johnnies, now 4-2 on the year, with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists.  Codute finished 4-of-7 from long range and added 14 points.  As a team, Saint John's shot 58.0 percent from the field and also converted 13-of-19 from the free-throw line.

The loss drops Buena Vista to 2-3 overall, and it will look to bounce back as it goes back on the road for a pair of non-conference games this weekend.  The Beavers play at North Park University on Saturday, November 27, at 4:00 p.m. before playing at Elmhurst on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.