Dunlavy goes for 24 in 84-73 loss

ELMHURST, Ill. - Simpson looked sharp in its first game of the New Year, but Elmhurst's three-point shooting and performance at the charity stripe helped the Blue Jays to a 84-73 win Saturday afternoon at R.A. Faganel Hall.

Tim Dunlavy scored a game-high 24 points as the Storm (3-8, 0-2 IIAC) made more field goals and outrebounded Elmhurst in the contest. But it was Elmhurst hitting nine triples and going 25-for-33 at the free throw line that allowed the Blue Jays (5-6) to snap a four-game losing streak.

Simpson made 28 field goals to Elmhurst's 25 and held a 31-25 edge on the boards, but the Storm made only three threes and went 14-for-19 at the free throw line.

Chris Childs led Elmhurst with 21 points and hit 5-of-6 from beyond the arc as Zack Boyd added 18 points while going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.

Dunlavy's 24 points was one-shy of tying a season-high, as the Storm saw its two-game winning streak come to a close. Freshman Elijah Knox gave Simpson a spark off the bench with a season-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

Elmhurst never trailed and led by as much as 11 in the first half before taking a 38-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.

After Anthony Miller's layup with one second remaining gave the Storm momentum going into the break, Simpson picked up the second half where it left off in the first as Dunlavy and Andrew Dau each converted on the first two possessions of the half to bring Simpson within four at 38-34.

The deficit would shrink no more, however, as Elmhurst's lead grew to 17 in the second half.

Zack Barragan finished with 11 points and Dau added 10 and a game-high eight rebounds as Simpson wrapped up its non-conference schedule at 3-6. Simpson now looks ahead to the meat of the Iowa Conference schedule, beginning Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Waverly against Wartburg.