Second half lead evaporates in closing minutes

STORM LAKE, Iowa - Andrew Dau scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds but Simpson couldn't enter the win column in conference play after a 77-73 loss to Buena Vista Wednesday night at Siebens Fieldhouse.

Trailing for most of the second half, the Beavers (8-6, 4-1 IIAC) mounted a 13-2 run over the final four minutes in securing the victory.

A senior forward from Primgahr, Iowa, Dau hit 5-of-9 three point attempts in the contest and gave Simpson a 73-71 lead on a lay-in with 2:19 remaining.

The Storm (3-11, 0-5 IIAC) didn't score again. Buena Vista's Nathan Parker hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:04 remaining and Kevin Osborn made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to extend the lead.

Zack Barragan came away with nine of his 13 points from behind the arc, Matt Fouch contributed 11 points and Tim Dunlavy added 10 for the Storm, which hosts Coe (3-12, 1-5) as part of a doubleheader at Cowles Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. The men's game will follow a 2 p.m. tipoff on the women's side.

Troy Tcknor paced the effort for the defending Iowa Conference champions with 20 points and eight rebounds. Nathan Parker added 15 points and Michael Elming chipped in with 12 for the Beavers.

After trailing by 11 in the first half, SC flipped the script with a 24-3 run over a stretch of 8:27 in taking a 10-point lead wtih 2:32 to go in the opening frame.

An Anthony Miller jumper gave Simpson an eight-point advantage with just under six minutes to go in the second half, as the Storm held the lead until Ticknor tied the game on a layup with 2:51 remaining.