Slow second half costs Storm against Gustavus

ST. PETER, Minn. – Dillon Gretzky posted a double-double but the Simpson men's basketball team couldn't recover from a slow start to the second half in a 71-62 loss to Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday.

Gustavus opened the second half on a 19-6 run, building a 20-point lead to improve to 3-0 all-time in the series. Simpson closed the weekend trip to Minnesota 0-2 after a loss to Agusburg on Friday.

Gary Cooper scored 15 points and Chad Poppen had 10 for the Gusties (1-1), who scored the final four points of the first half. The 23-6 run proved too much of a deficit for Simpson.

Gretzky had 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Storm (1-2). Jamie Montgomery came off the bench to score 15 points, going 5-for-6 from 3-point range. Austin Turner added seven points and five assists.

Riley Sharbono and Poppen made back-to-back 3s to put Gustavus ahead for good with 3:23 left in the first half. The lead grew to 20 on another 3 by Poppen with 12:48 left in the second half.

Simpson got within 62-54 on a Sam Amsbaugh layup with 3:15 to play, but a jumper by Cooper pushed the lead back to 10 and Simpson couldn't answer.

Up next – vs. Grinnell, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7:05 p.m.