53 combined points from a freshmen duo propelled the Central College men’s basketball team past Simpson College Tuesday night in a 100-79 victory heard live on 92.1 KRLS and 94.3 KNIA.

As the Storm defense focused their attention on slowing down back-to-back American Rivers Conference MVP Joshua Van Gorp, freshmen Owen Schipper and Grant Uecker stepped up big for the Dutch against their rivals. Schipper poured in a new career high 29 points on 11-19 shooting, while also collecting two steals and one block. Off the bench, Grant Uecker added 24 points on 8-11 shooting including going 6-9 from three-point land, while also dishing out four assists. Fifth year senior Kaleb Brand stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Despite drawing most of the defense’s attention, Van Gorp recorded his fifth double-double in five games with 18 points and 12 rebounds. 

For Simpson, freshman Cam Henderson knocked down eight of his 13 shots from the field for a team-high 17 points in 33 minutes of action. Playing 15 minutes off the bench, senior Caden Rehmeier connected on seven of his ten shots in the game to add 15 points for the Storm. Junior Levi Gurwell and senior Matt Schubert each contributed 14 points in the loss, while Schubert also had a team high six rebounds.

Central improves to 3-2 overall on the season and 1-0 in the conference, while Simpson falls to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the league. The Dutch will compete in the Nebraska Wesleyan Snyder Classic this weekend, starting Friday against Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) at 5 pm. Simpson is off until Wednesday, December 4th, when they travel to Coe College for a 7:30 pm contest.