The Buena Vista men's basketball team led by 18 points with just less than two minutes to go before seeing Wartburg cut it down to three in the closing seconds, but the Beavers were able to sink enough free-throws down the stretch to hold off the Knights, 82-76, inside of Levick Arena.
Senior Cole Darrow made two free-throws with 1:58 left to make it a 76-58 lead, and the Beavers seemed to be in control.
The Knights, however, had different thoughts, as they got an offensive put-back which helped spark a 16-1 run over the next 1:30 to get within three with 22 seconds left. Included in that stretch was a critical turnover by the Beavers on an inbounds pass following a Wartburg basket as well as two five-second calls.
Senior Alex Savage made four straight free-throws for BVU to make it an 81-76 lead with under 20 seconds left which all but secured the win.
Savage was one of five starters to score in double figures in this one, as he tallied 14 points and dished out a game-high seven assists. Junior Nick Clark added a team-high 15 points, including a team-best three long range buckets.
Darrow and sophomore Kennedy Drey each turned in double-doubles, with Darrow scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds and Drey, the league's leading rebounder, adding 12 points and a game-high 15 boards.
Senior Nick Wuebker made five of his six field goal attempts and chipped in with 12 points.
As a team, BVU shot 48 percent from the field, including 10-of-24 from downtown. It made 7-of-10 from long range in the second half alone to help break the game open. Defensively, the Beavers outrebounded Wartburg, 48-37.
Wartburg closed the first half on a 10-3 run en route to a 31-30 halftime lead. The Knights led 38-36 with just over two minutes gone by in the second half before the Beavers took over. Clark hit all three of his long range shots over a four-minute span which helped spark a key 22-6 run which had the Beavers in front, 58-44 with 9:33 to play.
The teams continued to trade baskets over the next few minutes before a big three-point bucket by senior Tyler Kastantin pushed the margin to 71-56 with four minutes to go. That lead grew to 18 before the final surge by Wartburg (10-7, 3-3 IIAC) made it interesting down the stretch.
Buena Vista extends its win streak to four straight to improve to 12-5 overall (5-1 IIAC) and remained tied with Coe College atop the league standings. The win also gives BVU at least a two-game lead over five of the remaining seven teams.
After its two road wins this week, the Beavers will now return home to play five of its next six games, beginning Wednesday night against Luther College (6-11, 2-4 IIAC). The Norse handed Loras a 72-64 loss on Saturday for its second straight win. BVU has won five straight on its home court, and tip-off inside of Siebens Fieldhouse is set for 8:00pm.