Second half run powers Dubuque past Simpson

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson College men's basketball played a back-and-forth contest with Dubuque for the majority of the game, but a second half run by the Spartans allowed them to pull away from the Storm, 70-59.

The Storm (3-4, 0-3 A-R-C) will feel hard done by since the final score was not indicative of the close nature of the game. Jaylin McCants helped spark a 15-0 run for the unbeaten Spartans (7-0, 3-0 A-R-C) over a six minute span in the second half that sealed the victory. Caden Rehmeier led the Storm with 12 points, while Andrew Gibb recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Storm had the brighter of the two starts, leading early by five after a triple from Jack Hutchinson.
• Dubuque responded with a 9-2 run to take a brief lead and neither team led by more than three the rest of the period. A layup by Hutchinson near the end half gave the Storm a 30-29 halftime lead.
• Easton Darling hit two 3-pointers to start the second half, igniting the crowd, but Dubuque and McCants started to find their groove offensively.
• A pair of free throws from Gibb gave the Storm a 49-48 almost midway through the second half, but then the Spartans reeled off the 15-0 run, leading 63-49 the next time Simpson scored.
• The Storm ran out of time at the end, as Dubuque continued its unbeaten start to the year.

TOP STORM

• Caden Rehmeier - 12 points, 5 rebounds
• Andrew Gibb - 11 points, 12 rebounds
• Andrew Curran - 11 points, 2 assists
• Easton Darling - 10 points, 2 assists

NOTABLE

• The Spartans lead the all-time series, 95-70, winning the last nine meetings.
• The Storm suffered its first loss of the season after leading at the half.
• Simpson led for the majority of the contest (19:34 to 17:24.).
• Simpson also led in rebounds and points in the paint at the half, but the Spartans walked away with the overall edge in each.

UP NEXT
The Storm step away from conference play to host Faith Baptist Bible on Tuesday at 7 p.m.