INDIANOLA, IOWA – The Luther men's basketball team is still seeking their first win in conference play but they'll have to wait a little longer after dropping 85-72 to the Storm. With the loss Luther's overall record drops to 3-11 and 0-6 in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play.  
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Both teams shot near fifty percent in the first half for a tight back and forth opening twenty minutes. After trading points early, the Strom raced out to their largest lead of the first half at 23-12. The Norse kept their composure and found themselves in a tie ball game at 25 after a three-pointer from Aiden Bailey (Dripping Springs, Texas / Dripping Springs) with 5:37 to go before the break. Just in those final minutes that game would have four lead changes and three times the game would be all knotted up. With Simpson leading by 38-36 with under a just under less than thirty seconds to go Andrew Lazinbat (San Antonio, Texas / Brandeis) dished it out to Randall Days (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Widefield) who knocked down a three pointer for the Norse with 2 seconds on the clock. Luther took the one-point advantage leading 39 to 38 heading into the break.  
 
The second half was similar to the first half with both teams trading points but Simpson once again found a way to extend their lead to 10 points with under nine minutes left to play. Luther pulled within three at 63-66 with a three-point play from Lazinbat. But that would be the closest the Norse would get in the game. Simpson through the second half was lights out at sixty-six percent from the field and fifty percent from beyond the arc. The Storm outscored the Norse 47-33 in the second half for the 85-72 victory.
 
TOP NORSE

• Andrew Lazinbat (San Antonio, Texas / Brandeis) led the team with 18 points and 6 rebounds. For back-to-back games with 10+ points in the new year.  
• Aiden Bailey (Dripping Springs, Texas / Dripping Springs) also record his second back-to-back game with 10+ points with 11 in this game.

UP NEXT
Luther hosts Central for an A-R-C contest on Saturday, January 14^th at 4:00 p.m. CT in the Regents Center Gymnasium in Decorah, Iowa.
 
For all the latest on Luther Men's Basketball, stay tuned to luthernorse.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.