Simpson fends off AIB for 61-52 win

DES MOINES, Iowa – Austin Hennings scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures and the Simpson men's basketball team beat AIB 61-52 on Saturday afternoon.

Hennings shot 6-for-13 from the field and added nine rebounds for the Storm (4-5), who beat AIB for the second time this season. Olu Rotibi scored 13 and grabbed seven rebounds and Charles Swain and Elijah Knox scored 12 apiece.

Brandon Eley scored a game-high 16 points and pulled down six rebounds for the struggling Eagles (0-15).

Simpson never trailed in the game and controlled play in the first half, leading by as many as 15 after back-to-back 3-pointers by Hennings. The Storm led 34-22 at the break.

AIB mounted a 10-0 run early in the second half to pull within four before Simpson slowly built the lead back to 11 after a jumper by Knox with 8:07 left. A 13-6 AIB run made it 53-49 with 1:29 left, but Knox, Rotibi and Drew Bentley went a combined 8-for-8 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the win.

Next up for the Storm is a trip to the state of Washington where they will meet Whitman on Thursday, Dec. 20 and Whitworth on Saturday, Dec. 22. Game times are 8 p.m. and 7 p.m. Pacific, respectively.