Simpson led by 12 with six minutes to go before the Knights mounted a 15-2 run and took a 65-64 lead when Nate Schmidt hit a three-pointer with 31 seconds to go. The Storm had the final possession. Ryan Hittenmiller was fouled by Schmidt, sending him to the line with 11 seconds remaining. He made 1-2 free throws to tie the score and the teams went to overtime. Simpson did not score a field goal over the final 7:30 of regulation.
In the overtime, Wartburg's Jason Steege broke the seal, scoring on a layup 1:02 into the extra frame. Hittenmiller made 1-2 free throws to make a one-point game. Jason Soppe put the Storm up 68-67 with a layup at the 1:51 mark.
Steege sank a three-pointer 20 seconds later to give the Knights the lead. Mitch Keller tied the game at 70 with a layup with just under a minute to go. Rance Cartmill scored what proved to be the gamewinner with a layup with 17 seconds to go. After a Simpson foul, Jordan Atchison with 10 seconds to go, Atchison could only convert 1-2 free throw attempts, giving Simpson, the last shot. The Storm worked the ball around to Scott Ellens. Ellens's three-point attempt with three seconds to go missed, sending Wartburg into the IIAC Tournament semifinals.
Schmidt led all scorers with 19 points. Atchison had 16 and seven rebounds. Soppe scored 13 points and had 14 rebounds to lead the Storm. Mitch Keller scored 13 and grabbed six rebounds. Adam Thorson scored 10 for Simpson. Hittenmiller had eight points and six rebounds. The Storm outrebounded the Knights 44-33, but were only 7-14 from the free throw line, compared to 10-17 for the Knights.
At Knights Gymnasium - Waverly, IA WARTBURG COLLEGE 73, SIMPSON COLLEGE 70 SIMPSON COLLEGE (8-18) SOPPE, Jason 5-12 3-3 13; KELLER, Mitch 6-9 0-2 13; THORSON, Adam 4-6 1-2 10; ALLEN, Brad 3-5 0-0 8; KASPERBAUER, T.J. 3-5 0-1 8; HITTENMILLER, Ryan 2-8 3-6 8; PARKINSON, Jason 2-6 0-0 4; ELLENS, Scott 2-4 0-0 4; MARTIN, Mike 1-7 0-0 2; TUBAUGH, Brennen 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 28-66 7-14 70. WARTBURG COLLEGE (22-4) SCHMIDT, Nate 8-16 1-2 19; ATCHISON, Jordan 6-8 1-2 16; STEEGE, Jason 4-12 0-0 9; CARTMILL, Rance 4-9 0-0 9; SANCHEZ, Adam 2-2 3-4 7; PETERSON, Cassidy 3-7 1-4 7; JOHNSON, Alan 0-1 2-2 2; FORMANEK, Joel 1-2 0-0 2; GULLICKSON, Nick 0-2 2-3 2; MENKE, James 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-59 10-17 73. Simpson College............... 40 25 5 - 70 Wartburg College.............. 35 30 8 - 73 3-point goals-Simpson College 7-18 (KASPERBAUER, T.J. 2-3; ALLEN, Brad 2-2; HITTENMILLER, Ryan 1-2; KELLER, Mitch 1-2; THORSON, Adam 1-2; TUBAUGH, Brennen 0-1; MARTIN, Mike 0-3; ELLENS, Scott 0-1; PARKINSON, Jason 0-2), Wartburg College 7-18 (ATCHISON, Jordan 3-4; SCHMIDT, Nate 2-2; CARTMILL, Rance 1-4; STEEGE, Jason 1-7; FORMANEK, Joel 0-1). Fouled out--Simpson College-None, Wartburg College-SCHMIDT, Nate. Rebounds-Simpson College 44 (SOPPE, Jason 14), Wartburg College 33 (ATCHISON, Jordan 7). Assists-Simpson College 16 (MARTIN, Mike 5), Wartburg College 19 (ATCHISON, Jordan 5). Total fouls-Simpson College 18, Wartburg College 14. A-800 Quarterfinal round of 2005 Iowa Conference tournament.