Storm use offensive barrage to take down Lake Forest

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Simpson College men's basketball team used an offensive barrage to dispose of Lake Forest in the team's final game of 2023, winning 106-74 against Lake Forest on the final day of the Loras Holiday Classic.

Andrew Gibb rebounded from his lowest-scoring output of the season to pour in a game-high 27 points on 12-for-14 shooting from the field. The Storm (6-7, 0-4 A-R-C) shot a blistering 75.9 percent from the field in the second half and 66.7 percent overall, the best shooting percentage in a game in the Brad Bjorkgren era. The Storm defense also was impressive, holding the Foresters (3-9) to just 25.9 percent from behind the arc.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Storm started out hitting 9 of their first 14 shots to take an early 21-9 lead, with Gibb making five of his first six attempts as well.
• Simpson continues the first-half barrage, leading by as many as 27 in the period.
• The Storm shot 59.5 percent from the field and 53.3 from beyond the arc in the first half, leading 54-29 at the break.
• If it was somehow possible, the Storm started the second half even hotter, making 15 of the first 18 shots to open up a 33-point lead.
• Easton Darling nailed five triples to help the Storm's shooting continue to increase, with the lead growing to 36 points later in the game.
• Simpson ran out 106-74 winners, collecting its third 30-point win of the season and the third time the team topped the century mark this year as well.

TOP STORM

• Andrew Gibb - 27 points, 12-14 FG
• Easton Darling - 17 points, 5-9 3FG
• Caden Rehmeier - 17 points, 4 rebounds
• Andrew Curran - 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
• Jack Hutchinson - 8 points, 8 assists
• Matt Schubert - 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks

NOTABLE

• The Storm shot over 60 percent from the field for the first time since Nov. 13, 2021 against Westminster and recorded the highest shooting percentage in Brad Bjorkgren's tenure as head coach.
• The Storm made 15 threes, the most since Nov. 16, 2021 against Faith Baptist Bible.
• Simpson's 23 assists were also the most in a game since the November 2021 contest against Faith Baptist Bible.
• It was the first time since Feb. 25, 2020 at Buena Vista that the Storm shot at least 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line.
• Jack Hutchinson recorded a career-high in assists with eight.
• Matt Schubert's nine rebounds and three blocks were also career-highs.

UP NEXT
The Storm resume conference play with a trip to Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.