Suffocating defense powers Storm to big win

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The Simpson College men's basketball team used suffocating defense to defeat Olivet, 77-55, in the team's opening game of the Cruzin' Classic.

The Storm (5-5, 0-4 A-R-C) jumped out to an early lead against the Comets (2-6) and never looked back. Andrew Gibb led all scorers with 23 points as the Storm got two double-doubles from Andrew Curran (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Austin Murrow (11 points, 11 rebounds).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets scored the first basket of the match, but the lead was short lived, as Simpson used an 11-0 run to open up an early lead.
• Olivet cut the lead to three a few minutes later, but the Storm immediately responded with another quick run, eventually going up by as many as 13 points and leading at the break, 35-24.
• The Storm came out strong in the second half as well, opening up a 50-30 lead after a 15-6 run to start the new period.
• Olivet never really threatened after that, as the Storm won 77-55 by limiting the Comets to just 31 percent shooting from the field and 13 percent from beyond the arc.

TOP STORM

• Andrew Gibb - 23 points, 4 rebounds
• Andrew Curran - 14 points, 10 rebounds
• Austin Murrow - 11 points, 11 rebounds
• Matt Schubert - 11 points, 5 rebounds

NOTABLE

• This was the second all-time meeting between the two schools, with Simpson tying the all-times series at a game apiece.
• Andrew Gibb has scored in double figures every game this season, including at least 20 in back-to-back games.
• Murrow and Curran recorded the first double-doubles of their careers.
• Simpson had its best defensive performance of the season, allowing season-lows in points, field goal percentage, and 3-point percentage.
• The Storm have now won four of their last five games in the state of Florida.

UP NEXT
The Storm will take on St. Vincent to wrap up the Cruzin' Classic tomorrow at 5 p.m. central time in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.