STORM LAKE, Iowa (Dec. 9, 2023) - Senior Zane Neubaum scored a game-high 25 points with fellow seniors Gunner Reed and Ryan Mendoza each adding 13 points, and the trio helped lead the Buena Vista men's basketball team to a thrilling 74-71 victory over visiting Luther College on Saturday evening inside of Siebens Fieldhouse.
It was a back-and-forth game from the opening tip with neither team able to build a lead the entire contest. Luther was aided by six made three-point buckets and shot better than 48 percent from the field in the opening half, but despite shooting under 38 percent from the field overall, the Beavers clung to a 36-35 lead at the half.
The Norse opened the second half with back-to-back three-point buckets to grab its largest lead at 41-36, but BVU stayed within striking distance the entire way.
Neubaum scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half as BVU shot over 65 percent from the field. Luther later held a 71-67 lead with 2:12 remaining before Mendoza came down and made a transition three-point bucket from right in front of the Beaver bench with one minute to play that gave BVU a 72-71 advantage. The Norse came up empty on their next possession, and then were forced to foul. Mendoza later made both free-throws on a 1-and-1 trip to extend the lead to 74-71 with 18 seconds left. Following a missed layup by Luther on its next trip down the court, the Beavers grabbed the rebound and Isaiah Adams was fouled and sent to the line to shoot a 1-and-1 with over three seconds left. He missed the free-throw and Luther had one final chance but their three-point attempt after a pair of timeouts came up short.
