Courtesy of Midland Athletics
STORM LAKE, Iowa – Midland University opened its 2025-26 season on Wednesday night in Storm Lake, Iowa, facing Buena Vista University in a nonconference matchup. The Warriors dropped a heartbreaking 88-84 loss to the Beavers after a back-and-forth battle that featured 30 ties and 40 lead changes.
Buena Vista opened the game with back-to-back baskets to take a 4-0 lead. A 3-pointer by Jeff Rozelle III brought it back to a one-point game before the Beavers answered with another layup, prompting Midland to call an early timeout.
After the short break, a free throw by Butch Lordeus and a layup by Anthony Simon tied the game at 6-6 with 16 minutes remaining in the first half. Simon then gave the Warriors the lead with another layup, but Buena Vista quickly regained it with consecutive baskets.
Rozelle III helped spark an 8-0 Midland run that put the Warriors on top 16-10 with under 12 minutes to go. The Beavers responded with an 8-0 run of their own to reclaim an 18-16 edge. Amari Rahaman then fired off a 3-pointer to ignite a 9-0 Midland run, giving the Warriors a 25-18 advantage with six minutes remaining.
The tight contest continued as the teams traded baskets before the media timeout with Midland leading 30-26. Out of the break, Buena Vista went on a 6-0 run to take a 32-30 lead. Free throws by Jake Orr and Simon pushed Midland back in front 33-32 with less than two minutes left.
The Beavers hit a 3-pointer to retake the lead, but Simon quickly answered with a jumper to tie it at 35-all with 46 seconds left. Buena Vista sank a jumper in the final seconds of the half to take a 37-35 lead into the locker room.
After the intermission, a layup by Lordeus tied the game once again at 37-37. The seesaw battle continued, with the score knotted at 46-46 with 16 minutes left. Buena Vista created a small cushion with a 10-7 spurt to go up 56-53, prompting a Midland timeout at the 13-minute mark.
Following a series of timeouts, the Beavers added a jumper before Midland answered with a free throw by Dylan Simon, two more from Nick Dolezal, and a layup by Orr to tie it at 58-58 with 10 minutes remaining.
Both teams traded scores until Buena Vista built a 70-65 lead with a 6-2 run. Three free throws by Rozelle III and Orr trimmed the deficit to 72-68 before the Beavers called a timeout. After the break, Orr added two free throws, followed by a layup and an and-one by Rahaman to tie the game at 73-all.
The teams continued to exchange points at the line, staying even at 77-77 with under two minutes to play. Rozelle III hit a layup, but Buena Vista answered with one of its own and a free throw to lead 80-79. The Beavers extended the advantage to 82-79 with a jumper, forcing another Midland timeout.
Orr scored a layup to pull Midland within 84-81 with eight seconds left, but Buena Vista hit two more free throws to go up by five. Orr drained a 3-pointer to make it 86-84 with two seconds remaining, yet two final free throws sealed the Beavers’ 88-84 win.
Simon led the Warriors with 22 points, followed by Rozelle III with 19, Orr with 18 points and nine rebounds, and Dolezal with 10 points.
Midland shot 27-of-52 (51.9%) from the field, while Buena Vista went 30-of-65 (46.2%). The Warriors outrebounded the Beavers 34-28, but Buena Vista forced 18 turnovers and scored 29 points off them.
“We’re disappointed tonight,” said head coach Tyler Erwin. “Offensively, we gave ourselves a chance. We had good numbers and good percentages from the field, from three, and from the line to put ourselves in a position to win. But on the defensive end and on the boards, we struggled. Give BVU a ton of credit—they ran good actions, and we had trouble guarding and rebounding.”
Midland (0-1) will have a quick turnaround as it hosts Dickinson State in its home opener Friday, Oct. 31, at Wikert Event Center in Fremont, Nebraska. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
