News Release

STORM LAKE, Iowa — The Buena Vista University men's basketball team defeated Luther College 77-62 in the semifinal round of the Iowa Conference Tournament on Friday. All five Beaver starters reached double figures as the team won its 11th straight game. Buena Vista has now made six straight conference title games.

Trailing 11-10 eight minutes into the contest, Buena Vista went on a 12-0 run and never gave up the lead the rest of the way. The Beavers shot a blistering 59 percent (32 of 54) from the field and held a 40-26 rebounding advantage.

Randy Bissen recorded his seventh double-double of the season by scoring 17 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Eric Wiebers contributed 15 points and four assists. Mike Cameron added 13 points. Jordan Campbell and Brandon Kies tallied 12 and 11 points respectively.

Luther, which ended its year 8-19, was paced by Drew Devine's 16 point performance. Brandon Grimm had a dozen and Matt Johnson tallied 10 points in the loss.

Buena Vista, now 24-3 and ranked 10th in the country, will try to win its fourth straight conference tournament when it travels to face Wartburg in the IIAC championship game on Saturday at 7:00 pm. The winner of the contest will receive the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA III National Tournament. The two teams split the regular season series with both schools winning by 11 points at home.

Luther College vs Buena Vista University
2/25/05 8:00 at Storm Lake, IA
At Storm Lake, IA

BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY 77, LUTHER COLLEGE 62

LUTHER COLLEGE (8-19, 5-11)
DEVINE, Drew 6-9 4-7 16; GRIMM, Brandon 4-9 1-4 12; JOHNSON, Matt 3-8 2-2
10; BILDSTEIN, Austin 3-5 0-0 8; BRANTNER, Tony 4-8 0-0 8; NEHMAN, Nick 0-1
3-4 3; RUMP, Andy 1-7 0-0 3; LOWE, Erik 1-3 0-0 2; LAKE, Eric 0-3 0-0 0;
CAMPBELL, Andy 0-0 0-0 0; ROSBOROUGH, Jon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-53 10-17 62.

BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY (24-3, 14-2)
BISSEN, Randy 6-8 5-12 17; WIEBERS, Eric 6-12 0-0 15; CAMERON, Michael 6-12
0-0 13; CAMPBELL, Jordan 5-8 2-2 12; KIES, Brandon 5-8 1-2 11; SCHMIDT,
Jesse 2-2 0-0 4; WITTRY, Matt 1-1 1-3 3; JOEKEL, Mark 1-3 0-1 2; VIET, Reece
0-0 0-0 0; GRIMM, Nolan 0-0 0-0 0; FRANKLIN, Rahn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-54
9-20 77.

Luther College................   22   40  -   62
Buena Vista University........   36   41  -   77

3-point goals-Luther College 8-19 (GRIMM, Brandon 3-8; BILDSTEIN, Austin
2-2; JOHNSON, Matt 2-3; RUMP, Andy 1-4; LAKE, Eric 0-1; LOWE, Erik 0-1),
Buena Vista University 4-15 (WIEBERS, Eric 3-8; CAMERON, Michael 1-4; KIES,
Brandon 0-2; CAMPBELL, Jordan 0-1). Fouled out--Luther College-None, Buena
Vista University-None. Rebounds-Luther College 26 (LOWE, Erik 7), Buena
Vista University 40 (BISSEN, Randy 11). Assists-Luther College 15 (RUMP,
Andy 3; JOHNSON, Matt 3; LOWE, Erik 3), Buena Vista University 16 (WIEBERS,
Eric 4). Total fouls-Luther College 19, Buena Vista University 15. A-1250
Semifinal Round of Iowa Conference Tournament