INDIANOLA, Iowa--The No. 21 Wartburg men's basketball team (11-4 overall, 4-2 IIAC) fell to Simpson (9-6, 5-2), 86-81 Saturday. 



Wartburg got on the board first as junior Jaran Sabus (Urbandale) sunk a three-pointer at 18:33, with an assist from classmate Josh Gehling (Dyersville). 

The Knights would continue building their lead until the Storm took their first lead of the game, 11-9, at 15:53. Simpson held their largest lead of the first half at 11:16 by nine points. 

At 6:46, junior Cam Kickbush (Reinbeck) scored a trey, giving the Knights the lead back.

After nine lead changes in the first half, Simpson would lead the Knights at halftime, 48-47. 

During the second half, the Knights got the lead back after a layup from Gehling, making the score 51-50 in Wartburg's favor. 

The Storm came threatening back at 11:10, following a jumper from John Barbee. Simpson would lead the rest of the game, including by their largest margin of nine points at 4:14. 

Wartburg cut Simpson's lead to within three with 20 seconds left in the game after a layup from freshman Max Smith Drahos (Cedar Rapids). 

Offensively for Wartburg, Sabus led the team with 23 points. Senior Nate Woeste (Atkins) scored 17, senior Sawyer Herman (Monticello) netted 12 and Gehling had 10 points. Kickbush and Sabus each had a team-best four assists. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Gehling had a team-high eight rebounds. Woeste had six. 

The Knights had the advantage in rebounds (38-28). 

Wartburg hosts Buena Vista on Monday, Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. in Levick Arena.