INDIANOLA, Iowa – Nebraska Wesleyan went on the road and knocked off Iowa Conference leader Simpson College 92-81 in men's basketball action on Wednesday night (Jan. 4) at Cowles Fieldhouse in Indianola, Iowa.
The Prairie Wolves snapped the Storm's five-game winning streak and gave Simpson their first IIAC loss of the year. NWU scored 92 points on the night, 24 points above what the league-leading Storm were allowing per game.
NWU led 38-31 at halftime, then went off for 54 points in the second half. In a game that featured 13 lead changes, the Prairie Wolves finally went on a run in the second half to break the game open. A 9-0 run early in the half, followed by a 12-3 run got the lead into double digits which was too much for the Storm to overcome.
Nebraska Wesleyan shot 53.8 percent from the field in the second half, while holding Simpson to just 34 percent in the final 20 minutes. NWU was 5-8 from 3-point land in the second half and finished the game at 9-21.
Freshman Jack Hiller had a big game for the Prairie Wolves to lead the offensive attack. The 6'6 sharpshooter was 4-5 from 3-point land and scored a game-high 22 points. Hiller was 8-10 at the free throw line while also pulling down six rebounds.
Four other NWU players reached double figures. Making a return to the floor after missing a game with injury was sophomore
Ryan Garver. Garver came off the bench to score 13 points with eight rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Deion Wells-Ross scored 11 points with six rebounds off the bench.
After being held scoreless in the first half, NWU leading scorer
Cooper Cook finished with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. The other player in double figures was
Nate Schimonitz with 10 points and a team-high five assists.
Ryan Skaar led Simpson with 20 points making 4-5 from 3-point land. DJ Dafney had 15 points and 15 rebounds.
For the first time in over a month, the Prairie Wolves will finally play a home game on Saturday at Snyder Arena when they host Luther College. It will be a reunion game as former NWU coaches Mark Franzen and Cam Schuknecht make a return to Lincoln as they will be on the sidelines for the Norse.
