Storm erupt after halftime, earn first A-R-C victory

INDIANOLA, Iowa – A scorching second-half performance propelled the Simpson College men's basketball team to its first American Rivers Conference win of the season Saturday, as the Storm rallied past Buena Vista, 86-76, inside the Cowles Fieldhouse.

Levi Gurwell, Bo Huston, and Jachin Mertes fueled the comeback, combining for 52 points while spearheading an offensive outburst after halftime. Gurwell and Huston combined for seven 3-pointers in the second half, while Mertes scored 12 of his 16 points over the final 20 minutes to help the Storm (3-6, 1-1 A-R-C) erase a halftime deficit and pull away from the Beavers (5-3, 1-2 A-R-C).

Simpson shot an efficient 60.7 percent from the field in the second half and outscored Buena Vista 53-34 after the break.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Simpson controlled much of the opening half but entered the locker room trailing 42-33 after Buena Vista closed the period on a 24-9 run.
• The Storm wasted little time flipping the script. Gurwell and Huston each buried a pair of 3-pointers during a decisive 16-0 run to open the second half, giving Simpson a lead it would not relinquish.
• Buena Vista trimmed the deficit to single digits midway through the half, but Simpson responded with another surge. Huston and Gurwell connected from deep once again, while Mertes added four points as the Storm stretched the advantage to 77-60 with 4:31 remaining.
• The Beavers continued to push late, but Simpson sealed the victory at the free throw line, going 7-for-11 in the closing minutes.

STARS OF THE GAME

• Levi Gurwell: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
• Bo Huston: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
• Jachin Mertes: 16 points, 4 rebounds
• Marcus Haupert: 12 points, 4 rebounds
• Isaac Averill: 6 points, 6 rebounds

NOTES

• Simpson matched its season high with 12 3-pointers and shot a season-best 50.0 percent from the field.
• The Storm recorded 20 assists, its highest total since Dec. 15 of last season.
• Simpson ends a four-game skid in the series and now leads the head-to-head record 86-84.

UP NEXT
Simpson steps out of conference play to host Gustavus Adolphus on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.