Early lead slips away as Loras tops Simpson

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Simpson got out to a fast start Saturday afternoon agaisnt Loras but couldn't sustain the momentum as the Duhawks beat the Storm 91-83 at the Loras AWC.

Simpson scored the first eight points of the game and built a 12-point lead in the first seven minutes before the Duhawks (12-7, 7-3 IIAC) made up the deficit and protected the lead for most of the second half.

Each team featured six players in double figures, led by Cornell's Dan Pawelski with 17. Connor Mooney scored 16, going a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line.

As a team, Loras hit 25 of 31 free throws on the day.

Zack Barragan (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) headed the effort for the Storm (4-16, 1-10) with 15 points. Matt Fouch (Kirksville, Mo./LaPlata) scored 13 and handed out six assists and Robert King (Glenwood, Iowa/Glenwood) tied a season-high with 12 points.

King keyed Simpson's early run, scoring six of the team's first 19 points as the Storm led 19-7 less than seven minutes into the game.

Pawelski answered with two of his three 3-pointers, sparking a 17-6 run over the next five minutes as Loras pulled to 25-24. A layup by Jason Abbuhl with 35 seconds left tied the game at 43 going into the break.

Andrew Dau (Primghar, Iowa/South O'Brien) hit a pair of layups to begin the second half, giving Simpson a four-point advantage.

The lead was short lived. Jordan Harrelson's jumper at the 17:21 mark gave Loras a one-point lead and the Duhawks didn't trail the rest of the way.

Simpson returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 3 when it faces Luther on the front-end of a three-game homestand. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. The Norse (9-9, 3-7 IIAC) lost to Buena Vista 52-43 Saturday. Luther defeated Simpson 68-54 Jan. 19 in Decorah.