MBB Preview: Storm look to rebound at Dubuque

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson Storm men's basketball team travels to face the Dubuque Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 5. Start time is set for 4 p.m. at Stoltz Sports Center.

Simpson suffered a 85-61 loss to 20th-ranked Loras on Wednesday, shooting a season-low 34 percent from the field.

Andrew Swadner and Rick Wilson will have the call on 95.3 FM and 1320 AM or online at kniakrls.com.

GAME 13
Simpson (8-4, 2-2) at Dubuque (10-3, 3-1)
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2018 | 4 p.m.
Stoltz Sports Center | Dubuque, Iowa
Live Video/Live Stats | Live Audio

DUBUQUE SERIES NOTES: Simpson and Dubuque are meeting for 152nd time in a series that dates back to the 1919-20 season … Dubuque leads the series 83-68 and has won 7 of 10 … the teams split last season's series … Simpson won 87-83 on Dec. 6 in Dubuque and Dubuque won 80-76 on Jan. 24 in Indianola.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS: Dubuque and 12th-year head coach Robbie Sieverding are 10-4 overall and come into the game riding a five-game winning streak … the Spartans beat Central 93-74 on Wednesday, getting 26 points from Marcus McDaniel … McDaniel leads the team in scoring (16.5 ppg), one of four players averaging double figures … the league's No. 2 rebounding team (+6.0) boasts the No. 2 (Michael Williams, 7.5) and No. 3 (Avery Butler, 7.0) rebounders in the conference.

LAST TIME OUT: The Storm are coming off an 85-61 loss to No. 20 Loras on Wednesday.Simpson endured its worst offensive performance of the season in the loss, scoring a season-low 61 points and shooting a season-low 34.4 percent from the field.

RIORDAN RETURNS: Leading scorer Conor Riordan returned to the lineup against Loras after missing three games with a foot injury. He scored four points in 19 minutes of play, but saw his streak of consecutive games with double-digit points come to a close at 26.

JANSSEN STEPS UP: Nick Janssen has stepped up in Riordan's absence, starting the last four games at the point. He is averaging 11.8 ppg and 3.3 apg during the stretch, which included a career-high 24 points in the loss to New England on Dec. 21.

REITER ENJOYING CAREER YEAR: Adam Reiter is an early candidate for Simpson's most improved player. The 6-foot-8 junior has increased his production exponentially in 2018-19, averaging 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 2.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks.

JOINING THE 50-WIN CLUB: With Simpson's 94-69 win at Luther on Dec. 3, head coach Brad Bjorkgren became just the fifth coach in school history to reach 50 career wins. Bjorkgren is the second-fastest in school history to reach the mark, needing just 85 games. Only Frank Casey got there quicker (79 games from 1935-40). In his fourth season at the helm, Bjorgkren is 52-37.

UP NEXT: Simpson hosts No. 1 Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Start time is set for 8 p.m. at Cowles Fieldhouse.