Second half drought costs Storm against No. 24 Augustana

INDIANOLA - Kyle Nelson scored a game-high 22 points and No. 24 Augustana opened the second half on a 12-0 run en-route to an 85-66 win Tuesday night at Cowles Fieldhouse.

Leading 45-40 at the break, the Vikings (1-0) went 6-for-6 from the floor in opening a 17-point lead just over four minutes into the half. Nelson added six rebounds and went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line as Augustana improved to 15-3 all-time against Simpson.

Center JJ Vanderheiden led the Storm (0-1) with 17 points and four rebounds. The 6-6 senior scored 13 points in the first half, leading Simpson on a 10-4 run to close the period.

Trailing by as much as 14 early on, Simpson fought back into the contest with the combination of Vanderheiden and guard Stefon Brown. Brown's nine points - which included a four-point play - sparked the Storm, cutting the deficit to 45-40 at halftime.

Simpson also relied on an aggressive offensive attack, drawing 15 fouls which resulted in 18 of 20 shooting from the line.

In the second half, Simpson cooled down, shooting 33.3 percent from the field (compared to 47.6 in the first half) and made only 11 trips to the free throw line.

Brown closed with 15 points, while Zack Barragan and Elijah Knox chipped in with eight a piece. Knox handed out three assists and had three steals.

Simpson returns to action this weekend when it takes part in the Northwestern Tip-Off Classic in Roseville, Minn. The Storm face UW-River Falls at 4:30 p.m. Friday, with Saturday's game to be determined.