Short-handed Storm can't handle Dubuque

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Playing without the services of two starters, the Simpson men's basketball team didn't have enough firepower to hang with conference frontrunner Dubuque in a 86-75 loss on Saturday.

Chris Frazier scored 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting and Andre Norris scored 17 and grabbed eight rebounds as the Spartans (20-1, 9-1 Iowa Conference) won their fourth in a row.

Getting his first start of the year, DJ Dafney posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double while going 8-for-10 from the free throw line to lead the Storm (3-18, 1-9).

Ryan Olson scored 11 points off the bench and Tyler Anderson had 10 as Simpson played without leading scorer, Charles Swain, and IIAC assists leader, Chad Gutschenritter.

Simpson trailed by as many as 23 in the second half but made a late run to pull within 10. Trailing 80-64 with under three minutes to play, Simpson went on a 9-3 run. Anderson made four free throws during the stretch and Dillon Gretzky made a pair of layups to make it 83-73 with 59 seconds left.

Frazier went 3-for-4 from the free throw line down the stretch to put an end to Simpson's comeback hopes.

Simpson returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 12 when it goes to Wartburg for an 8 p.m. tipoff. The Knights (11-10, 5-5) won the first meeting between the two teams and beat Loras 85-80 on Saturday.