News Release

Lincoln, NE — Nebraska Wesleyan (4-4) defeated Simpson (2-5) 66-56 in men's basketball action Thursday night in Lincoln. The Prairie Wolves led 31-18 at halftime after holding the Storm to 8-26 shooting from the field (30.8%) and forcing 11 turnovers.

Simpson fought back, getting the lead down to six (48-42) with 5:35 to go when Jason Soppe scored on a layup. Nebraska Wesleyan went on a 10-4, capped off by a pair of Brian Cooley free throws to extend the lead back to 12, allowing the Prairie Wolves to go onto victory. Simpson held Neb. Wesleyan to 8-26 shooting in the second half, but the Prairie Wolves went 17-22 from the free throw line.
Nebraska Wesleyan was 26-32 (81.3%) from the free throw line for the game as the Storm could muster a 9-15 performance (60%) from the charity stripe.

The Prairie Wolves were led by Cooley who scored a career high 22 points. Joseph Easley had 13 as Wesleyan avenged a 70-67 Simpson Nov. 27 victory. Soppe led the Storm with his third double-double of the season, 14 points and 14 rebounds. Scott Ellens scored 11 points and had eight rebounds. Ryan Hittenmiller scored 11 points.

At Lincoln, NE (Snyder Arena)

NEB. WESLEYAN UNIV. 66, SIMPSON COLLEGE 56

SIMPSON COLLEGE (2-5)
SOPPE, Jason 5-12 4-6 14; HITTENMILLER, Ryan 5-14 0-0 11; ELLENS, Scott 4-8 3-4 11; ALLEN, Brad 3-6 1-3 8; THORSON, Adam 3-4 1-2 8; KELLER, Mitch 2-2 0-0 4; CERVENY, Lucas 0-0 0-0 0; MARTIN, Mike 0-7 0-0 0; CERMAK, Brett 0-0 0-0 0; GILBERT, Matt 0-2 0-0 0; KASPERBAUER, T.J. 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 9-15 56.

NEB. WESLEYAN UNIV. (4-4)
Cooley, Brian 5-10 8-9 22; Easley, Joseph 3-8 7-9 13; Heckman, Andrew 3-4 2-2 8; Snyder, Drew 3-8 0-0 7; Heiser, Mark 0-5 6-8 6; Hrabik, M.J. 1-2 0-0 3; Harms, Matt 0-4 3-4 3; Schmidt, Wyatt 1-1 0-0 2; Helman, Mitch 1-6 0-0 2; Ludwig, Bob 0-0 0-0 0; Brown, Andy 0-0 0-0 0; Minzel, Marcus 0-0 0-0 0.  Totals 17-48 26-32 66.

Simpson College...............     18   38  -   56
Neb. Wesleyan Univ............   31   35  -   66

3-point goals-Simpson College 3-16 (THORSON, Adam 1-2; HITTENMILLER, Ryan
1-4; ALLEN, Brad 1-3; MARTIN, Mike 0-5; GILBERT, Matt 0-1; ELLENS, Scott 0-1), Neb. Wesleyan Univ. 6-13 (Cooley, Brian 4-6; Snyder, Drew 1-1; Hrabik,
M.J. 1-2; Heiser, Mark 0-1; Helman, Mitch 0-1; Easley, Joseph 0-2). Fouled out--Simpson College-None, Neb. Wesleyan Univ.-None. Rebounds-Simpson College 39 (SOPPE, Jason 14), Neb. Wesleyan Univ. 31 (Easley, Joseph 7).  Assists-Simpson College 13 (CERMAK, Brett 3; KASPERBAUER, T.J. 3), Neb. Wesleyan Univ. 6 (Schmidt, Wyatt 2). Total fouls-Simpson College 22, Neb. Wesleyan Univ. 16. A-250