LINCOLN, Neb. (November 30, 2019) - Buena Vista made 17 three-pointers, including 10 in the second half alone, and pulled away from a 46-46 halftime tie en route to a commanding 100-84 victory over the University of the Ozarks on Saturday during the final day of the Snyder Classic, hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan.
The Beavers shot 44.7 percent from long range in the contest and were just one shy of their season-high of 18 back in the season-opener. Junior Dominic Sesma matched his career-high of seven three-point buckets, making 7-of-10, and turned in a season-high 23 points to help pace the way. Senior Timothy Jeffries followed with 21 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out a season-high five assists and recorded two steals. Junior Lincoln Rock chimed in with a career-high 17 points, on the strength of a career-best four three long range treys, to go along with five boards and five assists. Junior Michael Demers, who had a career-high 21 points on Friday, followed up with 13 points while DJ McNeal came off the bench to score 14.
The Eagles jumped out to an 8-2 lead and that was the largest lead by either side in the first half. Sesma hit consecutive treys to tie the game at 8-8 but the Beavers didn't take their first lead until DJ McNeal hit the second of two free-throw attempts to put them in front 24-23 with 10:51 left in the opening half. There were 10 ties and eight lead changes in the first 20 minutes alone. Brendan Gary's two-handed flush just before the horn sounded tied things up at the half.
Sesma, Demers and McNeal each hit a three early in the second half which broke a 52-all tie and put the Beavers in front for good at 61-52. It reached double-digits for the first time at 67-57 with 12 minutes left and the Eagles were unable to get back within single-digits from there. The largest lead was 22 (100-78) with 1:36 left.
BVU committed a season-low six turnovers in the contest while scoring 22 points off of 16 Ozark turnovers. The Eagles (3-4) kept things close by shooting 60 percent from the field overall, including 8-of-19 from downtown.
It was the first time all season that an opponent scored over 76 points against the Beavers and the second time that BVU has reached the century mark.
Buena Vista remains perfect at 8-0 and will now tip-off its American Rivers Conference schedule on Wednesday night (Dec. 4) when it returns to Snyder Arena for the third time in six days face to No. 8 Nebraska Wesleyan (7-1). It will also be the conference opener for the Prairie Wolves, who enter on a three-game win streak. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.