Posted: Feb 16, 2016

Storm men set for rematch against Buena Vista

The Simpson men's basketball team closes the home regular season slate Wednesday night when it hosts Buena Vista at Cowles Fieldhouse. With two games left in the regular season, the Storm are trying to earn the No. 2 seed in the Iowa Conference Tournament while Buena Vista is playing for its postseason life. Wednesday marks the annual Pink game, and all fans wearing pink will be admitted free of charge. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.

Game Setup
Matchup: Buena Vista (9-14, 4-8) at Simpson (14-9, 7-5)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 17
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Cowles Fieldhouse - Indianola, Iowa

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

Last time out
Matt Vonderhaar had 20 points, Jacob Timm flirted with a triple double and Coe beat Simpson 87-66 on Saturday. Coe outscored Simpson 23-8 in the final 10 minutes after nearly losing an 18-point lead. Sam Amsbaugh led the Storm with 16 points and seven rebounds, Simpson's only player in double figures.

A look at Buena Vista
The defending Iowa Conference champions have hit a rough patch, losing five of six entering Wednesday's meeting with Simpson. Sitting at 4-8 in conference play in a three-way tie for sixth, Buena Vista is still very much a part of the IIAC Tournament conversation. Despite the team's ups and downs, a constant for the Beavers has been the play of guard Nick Clark. The IIAC leader in assists, steals and 3-pointers, Clark is fourth in the league in scoring at 20 points per game. He's scored 20 points or more 11 times and has surpassed 30 four times, including 35 in the first meeting with Simpson. Seven of Buena Vista's 12 IIAC games have been decided by six points or less.

The all-time series
Wednesday marks the 150th meeting in a series dating back to the 1921-22 season. Simpson leads the series 78-71, but Buena Vista has won seven of the last eight meetings. The Beavers won this season's first matchup 89-77 in the IIAC opener in Storm Lake on Jan. 6.

5 STORM STORYLINES

1. Storm control their own destiny
In what has turned out to be a wild, unpredictable Iowa Conference season, one thing is for sure for the Storm: win out and earn the No. 2 seed and a bye in the first round of the IIAC Tournament. Right now, Simpson could land anywhere from No. 2 to No. 5 depending on how the final week plays out. A win Wednesday would guarantee Simpson at least a No. 4 seed and the right to host in the first round. If Simpson is able to win out, the Storm will have the second seed for the first time since the inaugural IIAC Tournament in 1999.

2. As Gretzky goes ...
The play of senior guard Dillon Gretzky has been a strong determining factor in Simpson's wins and losses this season. When Gretzky scores 15 points or more, the Storm are 5-1 in Iowa Conference play, the lone loss coming in a 16-point effort against Wartburg on Feb. 3. Simpson is just 2-4 when Gretzky fails to get to 15. Gretzky had reached double figures in 12 straight games before the loss to Coe on Saturday.

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 14-9 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 Wednesday's game against Buena Vista just three shy of 100 career 3-pointers. He is looking to become just the seventh player in school history to reach the mark. His 44 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 goes to Loras for the final game of the regular season Saturday, Feb. 20.