STORM LAKE, Iowa (November 20, 2019) - The Buena Vista men's basketball team overcame a poor first half offensively by exploding for 57 second-half points, and the Beavers improved to 5-0 on the year with a commanding 93-59 home victory over Crown College tonight inside of Siebens Fieldhouse.

BVU came out from the opening tip and shot a season-low 38.7 percent over the first 20 minutes and was held to just 4-of-12 from long range.  It did alot of work at the free-throw line by making all eight of its attempts.  Despite the struggle to finish around the rim in the half, the defensive presence remained in tact by holding the Storm to just 32 percent and 3-of-17 from downtown while holding a 36-25 lead at the half.

Following intermission, the Beavers found the shooting touch in right from the start of the second half and quickly used its defense and transition offense to extend their lead to 18 after four straight points from Noah Schmitt.  Michael Demers got a bucket and free-throw to make it a 22-point advantage with less than eight minutes gone by, and Crown (1-3) was unable to get it under 20 points the rest of the way.

Garrett Sittner knocked down one of the team's ??? three-point buckets in the game to push the cushion to over 30 for the first time with under 7:00 to go, and the Beavers didn't look back from there.

Junior Lincoln Rock set career-highs with four three's and 16 points to go along with six rebounds and two steals to help lead the charge for BVU.  DJ McNeal was one off his career-high with 22 points while hauling in seven rebounds, as Brendan Garyregistered his first career double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

BVU shot nearly 54 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game at 47 percent.  It finished 9-of-26 from long range and continues to get the job done at the free-throw line by making 18-of-21 attempts.  Timothy Jeffries made all four of his attempts and has now made 25 straight.  He was the fourth Beaver to score in double figures with 10 points.

The Beavers defended the Storm's top scorer, Timothy Wendel, who came in avergaging over 25 points in the team's first three games, by holding him to nine points on 4-of-8 shooting.  Christian Moore was the only player to reach double figures at 16 points.  Through five games, BVU is outscoring opponents by an average margin of 28.2. and has held three straight teams under 70 points.

Buena Vista has won five straight games played inside of Siebens Fieldhouse dating back to last season and will look to make it six in a row when Northwestern-St. Paul comes to town on Saturday, November 23, for a 3 p.m. tip-off.  The team will first play an exhibition game tomorrow night (Nov. 21) at Augustana University (S.D.) at 7 p.m.  Live video and stats will be available for the game with links posted at www.bvuathletics.com.