Simpson entered halftime with a 40-37 advantage. The Rams cut the Storm lead to 46-45 on a Tyler Cody three-pointer with exactly 15 minutes remaining in the game. The Storm struck for a 13-5 run, capped off by a David Ferezy dunk to take a 12-point lead, 59-47, with just under 10 to go. The Rams would only come within 12 of Simpson down the stretch as the Storm outscored Cornell 15-5 in the final six minutes of the game.
Hittenmiller led all scorers with 20 points. The 6-3 forward was 7-of-10 from the field. Lyndon Hawkins who started in placed of injured Jason Soppe at center tallied his first career double-double. Hawkins scored a career high 13 points and grabbed a career high 11 rebounds. Hawkins also tallied three blocks, three assists, and two steals. Simpson shot 54.9% for the game (28-of-51) while holding Cornell to 35.6% shooting from the field (21-of-59). The Storm outrebounded the Rams 40-30, and went to the line 14 more times (20-of-29 compared to 9-of-15). Cornell was led by LaDew who had 18. Cody scored 15 points and had seven rebounds.
The Storm are next in action Tuesday night when Simpson takes on Wartburg in West Gym on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
At Indianola, IA (Cowles Fieldhouse) SIMPSON COLLEGE 80, CORNELL COLLEGE 60 CORNELL COLLEGE (6-9, 2-4 IIAC) LaDEW, Griffin 7-18 1-1 18; CODY, Tyler 6-12 0-0 15; BITTER, Jeff 2-4 3-4 8; LEWIS, Matt 2-8 0-0 5; BYRNS, Ray 1-5 2-2 5; TIERNEY, Michael 1-4 3-4 5; WOHRLEY, James 1-3 0-0 2; BECKER, Forrest 1-4 0-2 2; HANDKE, Chris 0-1 0-2 0; RATTRAY, Andre 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-59 9-15 60. SIMPSON COLLEGE (11-6, 4-4 IIAC) HITTENMILLER, Ryan 7-10 5-7 20; HAWKINS, Lyndon 5-9 3-4 13; TRAVIS, Jeff 4-4 0-0 9; PARKINSON, Jason 2-10 4-8 8; TUBAUGH, Brennen 2-3 1-2 7; FEREZY, David 3-5 1-2 7; CERMAK, Brett 2-4 2-2 6; DAU, Andrew 1-1 2-2 4; JORGENSON, Peter 2-3 0-0 4; DUNLAVY, Tim 0-2 2-2 2; MARS, Chris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-51 20-29 80. Cornell College............... 37 23 - 60 Simpson College............... 40 40 - 80 3-point goals-Cornell College 9-27 (LaDEW, Griffin 3-10; CODY, Tyler 3-8; BYRNS, Ray 1-3; LEWIS, Matt 1-2; BITTER, Jeff 1-1; BECKER, Forrest 0-2; TIERNEY, Michael 0-1), Simpson College 4-10 (TUBAUGH, Brennen 2-2; TRAVIS, Jeff 1-1; HITTENMILLER, Ryan 1-3; CERMAK, Brett 0-1; PARKINSON, Jason 0-3). Fouled out--Cornell College-BYRNS, Ray, Simpson College-None. Rebounds-Cornell College 30 (CODY, Tyler 7), Simpson College 40 (HAWKINS, Lyndon 11). Assists-Cornell College 10 (LEWIS, Matt 3), Simpson College 22 (TRAVIS, Jeff 5). Total fouls-Cornell College 19, Simpson College 15. A-400