Scott Ellens put the Storm up 72-70 to begin over time with a layup. Ellens gave Simpson a four-point lead with another layup with 4:14 remaining. Brandon Yansky cut the lead to one with a three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining. Hittenmiller put the Storm back up by three with a pair of free throws. Mike Kilburg made it 76-75 with a jumper at the 2:54 mark. Kilburg put Coe into the lead for good with a jumper with 1:14 remaining. Simpson could not convert on its next two possessions including a turnover by Hittenmiller with eight seconds to go. After a Storm foul, Cory DeShaw made a pair of free throws for the final 79-76.
Hittenmiller led all scorers with 24 points. He tied the Simpson school record for highest free throw percentage in a game as he went 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Jason Parkinson scored 12 while Ellens and Matt Gilbert each had 10. Ellens, a senior, led the Storm with eight rebounds in his final collegiate game.
Kilburg led Coe with 21 points. DeShaw had a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists. Yansky scored 13 with Axdhal posting 12. The Kohawks advance to the IIAC Tournament finals where they will host the #3 seed, Buena Vista. The Beavers upsed the #2 seed Wartburg in Waverly, 64-62 Thursday night.
At Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Eby Fieldhouse COE COLLEGE 79, SIMPSON COLLEGE 76 SIMPSON COLLEGE (13-14) HITTENMILLER, Ryan 6-14 10-10 24; PARKINSON, Jason 5-11 1-2 12; GILBERT, Matt 4-6 2-2 10; ELLENS, Scott 5-8 0-0 10; CERMAK, Brett 4-7 0-0 8; FEREZY, David 3-8 0-3 6; ALLEN, Chris 1-2 0-0 2; TRAVIS, Jeff 0-1 2-2 2; HAWKINS, Lyndon 1-1 0-0 2; THORSON, Adam 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 15-19 76. COE COLLEGE (20-6) KILBURG, Mike 8-14 5-7 21; DESHAW, Cory 4-9 3-5 14; YANSKY, Brandon 5-7 0-0 13; AXDAHL, Brad 4-16 0-0 12; BREITBARTH, Aaron 3-6 1-2 8; KUENSTLING, Kyle 2-9 2-4 6; HANNA, Rob 1-2 0-0 3; KEHE, Chris 1-2 0-0 2; MAURER, Kyle 0-1 0-0 0; DILLON, Zach 0-0 0-0 0; AKINS, Garrett 0-1 0-0 0; DUX, Kevin 0-0 0-0 0; PETERSEN, Kale 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-67 11-18 79. Simpson College............ 36 34 6 - 76 Coe College................... 36 34 9 - 79 3-point goals-Simpson College 3-11 (HITTENMILLER, Ryan 2-5; PARKINSON, Jason 1-4; ELLENS, Scott 0-1; THORSON, Adam 0-1), Coe College 12-26 (AXDAHL, Brad 4-11; YANSKY, Brandon 3-4; DESHAW, Cory 3-6; HANNA, Rob 1-2; BREITBARTH, Aaron 1-1; KUENSTLING, Kyle 0-2). Fouled out--Simpson College-None, Coe College-HANNA, Rob. Rebounds-Simpson College 39 (ELLENS, Scott 8), Coe College 37 (KUENSTLING, Kyle 9). Assists-Simpson College 13 (CERMAK, Brett 3; HITTENMILLER, Ryan 3), Coe College 23 (DESHAW, Cory 10). Total fouls-Simpson College 17, Coe College 19. A-1000