Posted: Feb 11, 2016

Storm men host Coe for Senior Day

The Simpson men's basketball team tries for its third win in a row Saturday when it hosts Coe on Senior Day at Cowles Fieldhouse. A Storm win would lock up a spot in the Iowa Conference Tournament while Coe tries to keep its postseason hopes alive. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.

Game Setup
Matchup: Coe (8-14, 3-8) at Simpson (14-8, 7-4)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 13
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Cowles Fieldhouse - Indianola, Iowa

Live Coverage
Stats: SimpsonAthletics.com
Video: SimpsonAthletics.com
Audio: kniakrls.com

Last time out
Sam Amsbaugh scored 15 points, Austin Turner made the go-ahead layup with 3:37 left, and Luther missed two chances at a game-tying 3-pointer during the final possesion as Simpson held on for a 64-61 win Wednesday. Amsbaugh scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half, adding six rebounds. Dillon Gretzky had 14 points for the Storm, who moved into sole possession of second place in the league standings thanks to Wartburg's win over Loras.

A look at Coe
Coe's Iowa Conference Tournament hopes are hanging by a thread, coming into Saturday's game 8-14 overall and 3-8 in the league. The Kohawks have shown flashes this season, as their three conference wins have come against three of the top four teams in the league in Dubuque, Wartburg and Loras. Matt Vonderhaar has been the catalyst for the Kohawk offense, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds this season. He has 49 3-pointers and is shooting 82 percent from the free throw line. Coe is just 2-9 on the road this season (0-6 in the IIAC) and hasn't won away from Eby Fieldhouse since an 89-85 win at Illinois Tech on Dec. 13.

The all-time series
Simpson is 38-46 in the all-time series with Coe, which dates back to the 1911-12 season. Simpson beat Coe in the first meeting this season, 69-63 in Cedar Rapids on Jan. 9 to snap a six-game losing streak in the series. Simpson's last home win against Coe came in 2012.

TOP 5 STORM STORYLINES

1. A chance to clinch
The magic number for the Storm is one. Win, and the Storm clinch a berth in the Iowa Conference Tournament, something the Storm haven't been able to do since 2013. Simpson can also get in with losses by either Buena Vista or Luther. The Beavers are at home against Loras and the Norse host league-leading Dubuque.

2. One of the biggest turnarounds in Division III
More than 400 schools sponsor Division III basketball, but only nine can say they've experienced a one-year turnaround like Simpson. As of Thursday, the Storm's eight-game win increase from 2014-15 to 2015-16 is the second-most in the country. Only five teams - Green Mountian, Lyndon St., Warcester St. (MA), Penn St. Harrisburg and La Roche - have had a better turnaround, all sitting at nine-game improvements. Roanoke, Southern Maine and Medgar Evers are all even with the Storm at eight games.

3. Impressive first act
First-year head coach Brad Bjorkgren has led Simpson to an eight-game turnaround in 2015-16, as the Storm sit at 14-8 overall after managing just six wins last season. Bjorkgren's 14 wins are the most by a first-year coach at Simpson since 1927 and are one shy of tying the school record set by Harry Workman, who's 1926-27 squad won 15 games. Denny Deardon (1982-83) and Cecil Cushman (1921-22) each led their squads to 13 wins in their rookie season.

4. Getting out of the gates
If the Storm are ahead at halftime, fans should feel good about the potential outcome. So far this season, Simpson is 11-1 when tied or leading at halftime. The lone loss came on Dec. 2 when Simpson fell to Waldorf 75-67 after leading 30-27 at intermission.

5. Skaar closes in career 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 against Coe just five shy of 100 career 3-pointers. He is looking to become just the seventh player in school history to reach the mark. His 42 3-pointers this season are a career-high.

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 hosts Buena Vista in the home finale Wednesday, Feb. 17.