Storm men run out of gas in loss to Dubuque

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Reigning league MVP Andre Norris had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Dubuque beat the Simpson men's basketball team 74-64 on Saturday afternoon in a battle for a share of first place in Iowa Conference standings.

Jake Weber had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double and Kain Arthofer scored 12 points off the bench for the Spartans (10-5, 3-1), who moved into a tie atop the league standings with Central.

Sam Amsbaugh had another big night for the upset-minded Storm (9-6, 2-2), scoring 20 points and grabbing five rebounds. The sophomore scored 16 in the second half and went 7-for-8 from the free throw line.

Trailing by as many as 12 early in the second half, Simpson pulled within 55-52 after a pair of Amsbaugh free throws with 7:46 to play. The next two possessions came up empty, though, and a 3-point play by Weber halted the 15-6 run. Norris hit a pair from the free throw line and Simpson was unable to threaten in the final minutes.

Amsbaugh scored 12 points during Simpson's 5-minute stretch, which started on a 3-point play by Austin Turner. 

Dillon Gretzky had 13 points and four rebounds for Simpson, which lost its eighth in a row in the series.

A back-and-forth affair for most of the first half, Dubuque took control of the game with a 17-4 run that made it 39-28 with 2 minutes left. Amsbaugh got a layup and Gretzky turned a steal into a breakaway at the other end as Simpson cut the lead to seven at the break.

Up next: Simpson goes to Wartburg on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The Knights (9-6, 2-2) beat Buena Vista 83-80 in overtime Saturday in Storm Lake.