INDIANOLA, Iowa — Sam Amsbaugh walked onto the court Monday night and did what he usually does: gets buckets.

The junior erupted for 40 points and 11 rebounds as the Storm improved to 4-1, defeating Saint Mary’s 82-66.

Amsbaugh’s 40 points was the 10th 40-point game in school history and the most points in a single game by a Simpson player since 2006 when Jason Soppe scored 41 against Grinnell.

He did his damage from all of the floor at a radically efficient pace. The 2015-16 all-IIAC first-team selection shot 14-18 from the field and 3-4 from the 3-point line and piled on 22 points in the paint and did not miss a shot from the field in the second half.

Despite Amsbaugh’s big night, the Cardinals hung around for most of the night.

The Storm had just a six-point lead early in the second half but used a run sparked by senior point guard Brook Thompson to extend their lead to 61-48. Thompson hit a three-pointer off an assist from Jamie Montgomery and scored a tough layup in traffic on the next possession, giving Simpson a much-needed cushion going in to the final minutes of the second half.

Sabonis Smith was the only other Simpson player in double figures, pitching in 10 points. Montgomery scored six of his own points, while Thompson had five.

With the win, Simpson improved to 4-1, the program’s best start since the 2002-03 season when they also started 4-1.