Late Rally Stuns Buena Vista as Carleton Wins 76-74

Carleton College erased a late deficit and seized a 76-74 victory over Buena Vista University at BVU Gymnasium in Storm Lake, with Josh Engelberg converting the go-ahead layup with 23 seconds remaining. The Knights closed the 2025 calendar on a winning note after rallying from a 72-64 deficit with under five minutes to play.

The final minutes showcased a flurry of decisive plays. Buena Vista opened a 72-64 lead on a 10-2 run and appeared in control with 4:46 left. Carleton then produced a 9-0 burst that included two critical 3-pointers from Matt Drake and a teardrop by Sam Koelling to push the Knights ahead 73-72 with 50 seconds remaining. Kyle Stenberg’s pair of free throws briefly returned the lead to Buena Vista, but Engelberg’s high bank shot gave Carleton the edge and the Knights’ defense secured two stops to finish the game.

Statistically the contest was tight. Carleton shot 51.8 percent overall and connected on 11 of 25 triples for 44.0 percent, while forcing a season-high 10 steals. Matt Drake paced the Knights with 22 points, sinking 6 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc and adding three assists and three steals. Engelberg finished with 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting and a game-best four assists. Sam Koelling contributed 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting with a block and a steal, and Tobias Averill added 14 points. Andrew Weber matched Drake for team-high steals with three.

Buena Vista’s balanced attack kept the game close. The Beavers shot 43.9 percent overall, made 11 of 35 triples for 31.4 percent, and converted 13 of 15 free throws for 86.7 percent. Carter Sievers led Buena Vista with a game-high 27 points, including five 3-pointers. Key moments earlier in the first half saw a series of lead changes: Engelberg opened with a corner 3, Carleton led 20-10 midway through the first half, and Jayden Brink’s layup sent the teams into halftime tied 33-33.

For Buena Vista, the 76-74 home loss underscores the importance of closing out possession in late-game situations and defending the perimeter; conceding 11 made triples proved costly. The Beavers fall to 8-4 overall and will look to stabilize late-game execution in upcoming nonconference play. Carleton’s comeback highlights the value of perimeter shooting and turnovers in swinging tight contests, and the Knights improved to 7-5 as they head into the new year.