STORM LAKE, Iowa – Men's basketball was unable to overcome a 23-2 run from Buena Vista University that closed the first half in a 86-71 loss on the road Wednesday, Feb. 11. Austin Bienemann led the Knights in scoring with 23 points, which is fourth 20-point performance in the past five games.

The Knights are now 4-10 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play and 12-11 overall, while Buena Vista moves to 13-9 overall and 6-7 in A-R-C play.
 
Game Summary

• First Half
  • Austin Bienemann and Ethan Yungtum each scored two points to begin the game, but the Beavers scored six-straight points to take an early lead
  • Back-to-back three pointers from Bienemann put the Knights in front 10-6 after just under four minutes of play
  • Luke Ladwig scored in the paint for the Knights, but BVU took a 17-12 lead after an 11-2 run with 13:40 left in the first half
  • Eight-straight Wartburg points from Bienemann and Yungtum cut the BVU lead to 22-20 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half
  • Bienemann scored five-straight points for the Knights following a score in the paint and a three pointer, but Wartburg trailed 30-25 with 7:16 left in the first half
  • The Beavers ended the half on a 23-2 run to take a 53-27 lead into the break
    • Ladwig scored the lone Wartburg basket during the run
• Second Half
  • Yungtum, Ladwig and Gabe Trujillo each scored after the halftime break as the Knights trailed 56-33 after three minutes of play into the second half
  • Wartburg went on a 7-2 run that cut the deficit to 18 points with 15 minutes left to play
    • The run was led by a three pointer from Ladwig and two points each from Bienemann and Yungtum
  • BVU continued to lead 71-48 despite two scores from Bienemann as well as baskets from Drake Wemark and Yungtum with 10:58 remaining
  • Over the next four minutes both Trujillo and Brody Bauer combined for 12 points with six points each after two three pointers for Bauer and one for Trujillo
    • The Beavers held a 77-60 lead with just over six minutes left to play
  • Trailing by 24 with just under four minutes left, Wartburg closed the game on a 11-2 run to make the final score 86-71
    • Lyle Olsen and Drew Britson combined for all 11 points, including a made three pointer for each

 
Top Performers

• Austin Bienemann
  • 23 points
  • Five rebounds
  • Four assists
  • Four steals
  • One block
• Ethan Yungtum
  • 12 points
  • 10 rebounds
  • One assist
  • One block
• Gabe Trujillo
  • Eight points
  • One rebound
  • One assist
  • One steal

 
Notes/Streaks

• Wartburg still leads the all-time series 71-62
  • Wartburg is 31-37 on the road
• Yungtum has recorded a double double in 16/23 games this season
  • Second in Division III in double doubles this season
• Bienemann has scored 15+ points in seven-straight games
  • Four 20-point games in that span
• The Knights have made seven or more three pointers as a team in five-straight games
  • Bienemann has made three or more in each of the five games
• BVU had a 17-8 advantage in three pointers made
• Britson tied his career high in scoring
• Five offensive rebounds matches a season low for Wartburg
• Fifth game with four or more steals for Bienemann

 
Next Time Out
The Knights continue A-R-C play this week with a home game against Central on Saturday, Feb. 14. beginning at 4 p.m.