Three players scored in double figures for the Buena Vista men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, but the Beavers' upset bid against #10 UW-Eau Claire came up just short as they fell, 63-60.
The game was tied 29-29 at the half before the Blugolds quickly scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 37-29 lead. The margin later grew to as much as 12 at 43-31 before the Beavers stormed back with a 15-5 run to cut the deficit down to 48-46 midway through the half.
UW-Eau Claire used a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to go back up by nine and maintained the lead until Thomas Wisecup made 1-of-2 at the free-throw line to tie things at 60-60 with 1:37 left.
BVU got some good looks down the stretch to take their first lead of the contest, but couldn't quite get over that hump. After a missed shot attempt by Drey, Wisecup came down with a big offensive rebound, as Sean Morgan was later fould. He, however, missed both free-throw attempts, giving the Blugolds the ball with under a minute to play.
The Beaver defense nearly came up big on the ensuing posession, but Kennedy Drey was called for a foul while attempting to grab the rebound and fouled out with 28 seconds left. The Blugolds made both free-throw attempts to take a 62-60 lead. Wisecup drove the lane on BVU's next posession, but his shot rimmed off and the Blugolds came down with the rebound.
After a BVU foul, they still had life after the visitors made just 1-of-2 at the line with 11 ticks left. The Beavers came down the court and had two looks at a three to try and tie the game and force overtime but misfired on both as the horn sounded.
Wisecup finished with 14 points, including a pair of three-point buckets, as BVU struggled from downtown in the contest, making only 3-of-20. Morgan was 6-of-11 from the field and turned in 12 points, while Drey scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
David Jeffries, who had scored 55 points in his last two games, was held to only three on Saturday, but chipped in with a career-high nine assists and eight rebounds.
BVU was held to just 38 percent shooting overall and was 9-of-18 at the free-throw line.
UW-Eau Claire shot only 37 percent from the field, but made 5-of-16 from long range and converted 18-of-22 at the charity stripe. The Blugolds were led by Jared Schneidermann's game-high 18 points and eight rebounds. Josh Weix added a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards.
The Beavers dip to 4-3 on the year and will now be off for finals next week before returning to the court on Friday, December 17 for a 4:00pm tip-off at Elmhurst College