STORM LAKE, Iowa - The Wartburg College men's basketball team, the No. 7 seed for the 2021 American Rivers Tournament, fell 97-70 at No. 2 seeded Buena Vista University Tuesday, March 9, ending the Knights' season.

Wartburg finishes with a 4-7 overall record during the condensed 2020-21 schedule. 

Hot shooting from the Beavers daggered the Knights, as the home team shot over 50 percent from the field, including a 15-for-33 mark from beyond the arc. Four of five BVU starters recorded double-digits in points, led by 24 from Michael Demers.

Seniors Max Smith Drahos and Ryan Stulken led Wartburg, totaling 14 and 11 points, respectively. Marshun Williams led the Knights with seven rebounds.

Buena Vista opened the game perfect from the field in the first four minutes, gaining a double-digit advantage at 15-5. The Beavers didn't slow down, shooting over 60 percent from the field and 9-18 from long range, heading into the break with a 54-32 lead.

The Knights improved their shooting numbers in the second half, but continued to struggle from three-point territory. A Stulken layup just over six minutes in capped off a 16-12 Wartburg run to open the second half, trimming the BVU lead to 66-48. 

Wartburg came within the same margin after a Keagan John basket with eight minutes left on the game clock, but the Beavers maintained at least a 20-point lead for the remainder of the contest.