STORM LAKE, Iowa (Jan. 3, 2024) - Senior Zane Neubaum scored a game-high 24 points with five made three-pointers, but it wasn't enough for the Buena Vista men's basketball team on Wednesday night, as the Beavers fell to Loras College, 89-75, in the first outing of the new calendar year.

Neubaum was 8-of-17 shooting from the field and 5-of-11 from downtown. He also added five rebounds and matched a career-high with four steals. It was his 58th career double-digit scoring game and the eighth 20-point scoring performance of the season. Fellow senior Gunner Reed added 10 points while freshman Carter Sievers came off the bench to chip in with seven. Senior Ryan Mendoza dished out a game-high seven assists.

BVU was plagued by 17 turnovers and was outrebounded by 19 in the contest. Loras turned the ball over only five times on the night and outscored the Beavers 15-8 off of turnovers.

A four-point play from Neubaum gave Buena Vista an early 14-10 advantage before the Duhawks answered with eight straight points and forcing a BVU timeout. Loras was able to extend its lead due largely in part to a 7-of-14 effort from long range in the opening half and took a 51-36 cushion into the half.

BVU came out and held the Duhawks to only 4-of-17 from distance in the second half but shot only 3-of-11 of its own during that stretch and just 44.8 percent from the field.

Loras led by as many as 20 in the second half, but despite clawing back within 12, the Beavers couldn't inch any closer. Loras seemingly had an answer for any BVU run.

Declan Ciurlik finished with 18 points to lead Loras which had six players reach double figures. Ciurlik was 4-of-4 from behind the arc while three others made a pair. Ali Sabet, despite going 2-of-10 from long distance, followed with 15 points and five assists as Tyler Bass also registered 15 points and grabbed nine boards.

Buena Vista dips to 8-5 on the year and 1-3 against league foes. The Beavers face a tough road test on Saturday as they travel to unbeaten and 24th-ranked Dubuque (12-0, 4-0 A-R-C) for a 4 p.m. tip-off.