STORM LAKE, Iowa - The Bethany Lutheran men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday afternoon when they fell to Buena Vista 98-85. With the loss the Vikings move to 10-1 on the season while the Beavers are now 6-5. 

The first half played back-and-forth in the early going with the teams trading leads until Mason Ackley hit a three-pointer just over four minutes in to put the Vikings up 13-11. From that point forward Bethany would lead for the duration of the first half, extending their lead as many as nine points at 43-34 with 2:59 remaining. The Beavers didn't go into the half quiet, as they would close the frame on a 10-1 run and hit a three with time expiring to send things to the break tied at 44 apiece. 

BVU picked up right where they left off in the first half, going on an 11-7 run to start the second and take a 55-51 lead before Ackley and Drew Sagedahl scored on consecutive possessions to tie things back up. The Beavers made their mark on the game over the next three minutes though, as they would score 10 unanswered to take a double-digit lead with 11:50 remaining. From there on out, each time the Vikings would trim the deficit to a two possession game, Buena Vista would respond and push their lead back to double-digits as they were able to hold on for the win.

Ackley led the Vikings with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go along with a team best eight rebounds and four steals. Xavier Patterson also contributed big on the offensive end, tallying 22 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Sagedahl finished his day with 16 points. Both teams shot an even 50 percent in the contest but BVU was able to force 17 Bethany turnovers and corral 12 offensive rebounds to gain a few extra possessions. 

Bethany is back in action on Dec. 30 when they travel to Carleton College for a 5 p.m. contest.