Simpson snaps six-game skid with win against Wartburg

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Anthony Miller (Sacramento, Calif./Buena) scored the game-winner with 37 seconds left and Simpson snapped a six-game losing streak in style with a dramatic 75-73 win against Wartburg Saturday afternoon at Cowles Fieldhouse.

Trailing 73-72 with 49 seconds remaining, Tim Dunlavy (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) found Miller alone under the hoop off a backdoor cut.

After a Wartburg turnover on the ensuing possession, Andrew Dau (Primghar, Iowa/South O'Brien) made 1 of 2 free throws and a last-second desperation heave by the Knights missed the mark as Simpson beat Wartburg for the first time since Jan. 9, 2007.

Miller came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points on 6 of 8 shooting to lead the Storm (5-17, 2-11 IIAC). Dunlavy recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Dau added 11.

In addition to Miller's performance, Simpson got solid contributions from a number of reserves. Dave Fouch (Kirksville, Mo./La Plata) scored seven points, JJ Vanderheiden (Glidden, Iowa/Glidden-Ralson) scored six and Elijah Knox (Scottsdale, Ariz./Cactus Shadows) and John Cord (Atlantic, Iowa/Atlantic) added five each. The Storm's bench out-scored Wartburg's 42-20 for the game.

Jordan Sathoff scored a game-high 20 points to lead five players in double figures for the Knights (13-9, 7-6 IIAC).

The back-and-forth affair featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes. The largest lead by either team came when a Sathoff jumper gave Wartburg a 20-11 lead just over 10 minutes into the game.

Simpson battled back and trailed 34-33 at halftime. Miller connected on a 3-pointer with 1:09 to play in the period to get the Storm within a point.

Neither team led by more than five in the final 20 minutes. A trey from Dau gave Simpson a 69-67 lead with 3:49 left before the Knights scored seven unanswered points in taking a 73-69 lead with 2:47 to go.

A pair of free throws by Dunlavy and a 1-for-2 trip to the line from Knox made the score 73-72. After Miller's layup gave Simpson the lead with 37 seconds left, a Wartburg turnover gave the ball back to the Storm.

Simpson's final home game of the season comes Wednesday, Feb. 10 as the Storm closes out their three-game home stand. Simpson plays host to Buena Vista (11-9, 7-4), which won the two teams' first matchup of the season in Storm Lake, 77-73. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.