– The American Rivers Conference Basketball Tournaments take place this week and will include both Buena Vista University teams for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.
The BVU women secured the No. 3 seed in the tournament and will host its quarterfinal round game on Tuesday night (Feb. 24) against No. 6 seed Central College at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to play at No. 2 seed Coe on Thursday night, Feb. 26.
BVU and Central split its two regular season match-ups this season, with the Beavers taking the most recent battle, a 70-63 overtime victory on Jan. 24 in Pella. This will be Buena Vista’s first conference tournament berth (excluding the COVID-19 shortened season) since 2017-18, and it will be the program’s highest seed in the last 20 years when it was also the No. 3 seed back in 2005-06.
The other women’s quarterfinal pairing is No. 5 seed Luther playing at No. 4 seed Simpson with the winner traveling to No. 1 seed Wartburg on Thursday.
On the men’s side, Buena Vista returns to the tournament after missing out by one game last season. It secured its bid last Wednesday night despite a loss at Nebraska Wesleyan, but then solidified the No. 5 seed after a thrilling 65-62 home victory on Senior Day over Loras College on Saturday afternoon. The Duhawks, who could have clinched a share of the title with a win, will be the No. 2 seed.
The Beavers will travel to No. 4 seed Dubuque for their quarterfinal game on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The two teams split their regular season meetings with BVU winning in Dubuque back on Jan. 3. The winner will advance to play top-seed Nebraska Wesleyan in the semifinal round on Thursday, Feb. 26.
