150 points not enough for men's basketball in loss to Grinnell

INDIANOLA, Iowa - It's not often that a basketball team scores 150 points in a game. It's even less often that a team scores 150 points and loses.

Unfortunately that was the case for the Simpson men's basketball team on Saturday.

Dillon Gretzky scored 32 points to lead six players in double figures but Jack Taylor and the high-scoring Grinnell Pioneers beat Simpson 156-150 in an entertaining game at Cowles Fieldhouse.

The NCAA's leading scorer in all divisions, Taylor scored 47 points and set a school record by going 24-for-27 from the free throw line to help the Pioneers (7-1) get their first win against Simpson since 2006. The junior came into the game averaging better than 44 points per game.

Gretzky was the main beneficiary of Simpson's philosophy to attack the rim against Grinnell's famous frenetic, trapping style defense. He went 11-for-20 from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line as the Storm (1-8) set school records for free throws made (47) and attempted (64).

Charles Swain scored 29 points, Austin Hennings had 25 and 17 rebounds, Ryan Olson finished with 15 points, and Eric Lande and Chad Gutschenritter had 12 apiece.

Simpson held Taylor in check for most of the game before he got hot with 5 minutes left. Grinnell led 136-131 before Taylor hit 3s on each of the next three possessions to increase the lead to 145-135 with 4:23 left.

Taylor finished with seven 3-pointers, going 7-for-20 from downtown. Grinnell was 23-for-66 as a team.

Hennings pulled Simpson within three at 151-148 with 23 seconds left, but Luke Yeager got behind Simpson's press on the following inbound for an uncontested layup to seal the win.

Simpson led by as many as 10 in the first half, using a 10-2 run to take a 43-33 lead with 9:03 left. Five 3s over the next 2:36 helped Grinnell tie the game at 54 and an 11-0 run turned the deficit into a 65-56 lead with 4:19 left in the half.

Grinnell led 79-73 at halftime and never trailed in the final 20 minutes.

Simpson closes out the 2013 portion of the schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 31 when it hosts Nebraska Wesleyan. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

Notes: The teams combined to commit 76 fouls and shoot 118 free throws … a total of six players fouled out, three from each team … Simpson outscored Grinnell 90-36 in the paint … Simpson's 150 points are the third-most in school history and most since scoring 157 against Grinnell in 1995 … the school record is 167 points – also coming against Grinnell – in 1994 … Simpson's 51 made field goals and 86 attempts both rank second in school history.