STORM LAKE, Iowa (January 8, 2022) - In an epic American Rivers Conference men's basketball showdown, the Buena Vista men's basketball team returned home to Siebens Fieldhouse for the first time in over a month on Saturday afternoon and outlasted visiting Coe College, 80-73.

Senior Michael Demers turned in 21 points and seven rebounds with Garrett Sittner adding 13 points and eight boards.  Michael Santich chipped in with 12 points while Simon Daniel and Zane Neubaum turned in 11 and 10, respectively.  Jake Thompson, who turned in a triple-double at Simpson on Wednesday, finished with seven points and three rebounds to go along with a game-leading seven assists.

Both teams shot over 56 percent from the field in the first half with BVU going 7-of-12 from long range to help build a 49-38 halftime advantage.  The Beavers did cool off from beyond the arc in the second half, going just 2-of-11 and was able to overcome a 5-of-12 effort at the free-throw line over the final 20 minutes.

The Kohawks led 14-9 early on before Thompson nailed a three-point bucket with 11:19 left to put BVU ontop 19-16.  The Beavers led by as many as 13 in the contest and held the advantage until Coe clawed back to take a 66-64 lead with 5:08 to play.  That lead was short-lived, however as Santich came right back with a three-pointer for BVU to put the Beavers back in front for good 67-66.  It was still a one-point game at 71-70 before Sittner hit a big three to make it 74-70 with 1:42 left.  BVU then got a big put-back bucket from Demers with under a minute to play that extended the cushion to six.  

The Kohawks (11-4, 3-3 A-R-C) wouldn't go away as they came back and made a three-pointer with 42 seconds left before Demers backed down a Coe defender late in the shot clock to make a shot in the paint to make it a 78-73 lead with just 19 seconds left.  After a missed layup from Coe, Demers grabbed the rebound and was fouled and made 1-of-2 at the line to all but about secure the win.  Neubaum added a final free-throw for the game's final score.

The Beavers have have now won four straight A-R-C games to improve to 7-8 overall (4-2 A-R-C) and in sole possession of third place in the league standings.  

BVU hosts Central (3-10, 0-5 A-R-C) on January 12 at 7:30 p.m.