STORM LAKE, Iowa (Jan. 21, 2026) - The Buena Vista men's basketball team couldn't overcome a tough shooting night on Wednesday, as the Beavers fell at home to visiting Nebraska Wesleyan, 65-52, in an American Rivers Conference showdown.

In what was a match-up of two of the top three-point shooting teams in the A-R-C this season, the Beavers tied a season-low with only eight makes from downtown and finished 8-of-32 from behind the arc overall. The team struggled to see the ball go through the hoop all night long by shooting just 19-of-54 in the contest (35.2 percent). Both marks were the lowest percentages for the team all season.

Senior Jackson Jones made a layup in the opening minute to give BVU the early 2-0 lead before the Prairie Wolves scored 10 straight over the next five minutes. Jones kept BVU within striking distance by scoring 16 of the team's first 21 points, including a big three-point bucket from the corner that pulled the team back even at 21-21 with just over five minutes to play in the opening half. Nebraska Wesleyan led by as many as six down the stretch and took a 31-27 advantage into the half.

NWU pulled ahead by nine nearly four minutes into the second half but the team's combined for only five points over the next four minutes. The Beavers were still within five after a made three-pointers by junior Keaton Flaherty and sophomore Adam Bryte midway through the half.

A pair of made free-throws by the Prairie Wolves followed by back-to-back made three-pointers quickly pushed their lead up to 53-40 with 5:38 to play. BVU tried to keep within striking distance but NWU seemed to have an answer each time and maintained the double-digit advantage the rest of the way.

Jones was held scoreless in the second half but still led the team in scoring with his 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting overall. He also grabbed six rebounds and turned in two steals. Sternberg was right behind with 15 points and four boards. Bryte made a pair of three-point baskets and chipped in with eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sophomore Jaden Jones came off the bench to score four points and dish out a team-high five assists.

The Beavers held Nebraska Wesleyan to only 9-of-35 shooting from long range (25.7 percent) but the Prairie Wolves held the edge at the free-throw line by making 12-of-16 compared to only 6-of-6 by the Beavers.

Nick Howard led the way for NWU (12-5, 7-1 A-R-C) with 15 points while Neal Mosser added 11.

Buena Vista is now 10-6 on the year (4-4 A-R-C) and will now travel to Central College on Saturday, Jan. 24, as it looks to complete the season sweep of the Dutch. Tip-off of the contest has been pushed back to 7 p.m. as Central is also host to the A-R-C Women's Wrestling Individual Tournament earlier in the day.