Posted: Jan 29, 2016

Storm men set for big test at Dubuque

The Simpson men's basketball team will get another shot at the defending Iowa Conference Tournament Champions on Saturday, Jan. 30 when the Storm go to Dubuque. Sole possession of first place in the IIAC is on the line when the teams tip off at 4 p.m. from Stoltz Sports Center.

Game Setup
Matchup: Simpson (12-6, 5-2) at Dubuque (12-6, 5-2)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 30
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Stoltz Sports Center - Dubuque, Iowa

Coverage
Video: DBQ.edu/Athletics
Audio: kniakrls.com

Last Time Out
Sam Amsbaugh went off for a career-high 30 points and Dillon Gretzky scored 26 as Simpson erased a 12-point, second-half deficit in an 86-78 win over Central on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Down 48-36 early in the second half, Simpson mounted an 18-0 run to take the lead for good.

A look at Dubuque
The preseason conference favorite Spartans are 12-6 overall and 5-2 in the Iowa Conference after beating Loras 81-66 on Wednesday. Reigning league MVP Andre Norris does it all for Dubuque, leading the league in scoring (23 ppg) and rebounding (12.0 rpg). The lanky 6-7 senior forward has led the team in scoring in all but four games this season and has been the top rebounder in all but three. The Spartans haven't lost at home since Dec. 12 and are 4-0 at Stoltz against the IIAC, winning by an average of 20.5 points.

The all-time series
Saturday marks the 147th meeting between Dubuque and Simpson in a series that dates back to the 1919-20 season. Simpson is 65-81 all-time against Dubuque and has lost eight in a row. Since 2007-08 Simpson is just 2-17 against the Spartans. The Storm's last win in the series came in the 2012 IIAC Tournament, a 95-87 double-overtime triumph in Dubuque. Dubuque won the first meeting 74-64 on Jan. 16.

TOP 5 STORM STORYLINES

1. Storm with a chance for sole possession of first place
Few people would have expected Simpson - a team with three conference wins the previous two seasons combined - to be in a share for first place halfway through the conference schedule. But that is the case as the surprising Storm go to Dubuque with a chance to take sole possession of first place. All they have to do is knock off the defending IIAC Tournament champs, a team that is 11-2 at home against conference opponents over the last two years.

2. Streaking Storm take league's hottest team to Dubuque
Playing as well as any team in the Iowa Conference right now, Simpson goes into Saturday's game riding a three-game winning streak. The Storm have won 5 of 6, thanks in large part to the its ability to shoot the 3-pointer. In the last three games, Simpson is shooting better than 40 percent from deep while hitting 11 per game.

3. Big man Amsbaugh develops outside game
Crafty forward Sam Amsbaugh brought another dimension to his game by adding the threat of an outside shot. At this point it's no longer just a threat, however. It's downright deadly. After going just 3-for-8 from beyond the arc in his rookie campaign, Amsbaugh is 19-for-38 this season. He's especially shined in the IIAC, shooting a league-high 78.9 percent (15-for-19) from downtown. The new wrinkle not only has allowed him to lead the team in scoring (14.8 ppg), but has opened lanes for drive-first Dillon Gretzky, who's averaging 14.6 per game.

4. Automatic from the line
Through 18 games, Simpson is one of the top free throw shooting teams in all of Division III. Shooting 74.9 percent from the line, the Storm lead the Iowa Conference and rank 28th in the nation. The school record for free throw percentage in a season is 75.8 set in 1994-95. The next highest mark is 72.1 percent, set in 2001-02. The Storm have three players shooting better than 80 percent from the line: Ryan Skaar (92.5), Sam Amsbaugh (81.4) and Dillon Gretzky (80.2).

5. Skaar closing in on a milestone
Simpson's top deep threat over the past two seasons, Ryan Skaar is within reach of a career milestone. The junior enters Saturday's game at Central eight shy of 100 career 3-pointers. He is looking to become just the seventh player in school history to reach the mark. His 39 3-pointers this season are tied for sixth-most in the Iowa Conference.

The coach
Brad Bjorkgren is in his first season as head coach of the Storm. The Simpson alum coached Urbandale High School for 27 seasons, winning nearly 400 games, nine conference championships and appearing in seven Class 4A State Tournaments.

Up next
Simpson begins a stretch two-straight home games Wednesday, Feb. 3 when it hosts Wartburg at 8 p.m. The Storm play four of their final six games at home.