REDDING, Calif. - Opening night for the Simpson U men's basketball team started the season exactly the way the Red Hawks wanted too. Simpson opened the season on its home court and thrived off the loud fans all night long.

From the moment they stepped on the court, Simpson played with incredible enthusiasm. After beginning the game on a 7-0 run, the Red Hawks get the pedal to the floor, pulling off the 95-66, blowout win.
 

Struggling with foul trouble in the first half, forcing Todd Franklin to get deep into his bench, West Coast Baptist College kept the game close until 14 straight points from Blake Trent, drilling four 3-pointers in that stretch, giving the Red Hawks a large lead.

Several players recorded impressive numbers on the evening. In their first games in a Simpson Red Hawk uniform Jon Manjon and Blake Trent put on show. Manjon tallied a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Trent recorded 22 points and five rebounds.  Aaron Berry, Tiyon Martin, and Brandon Moss all finished in double figures as well for SU.

Thirteen Simpson players saw floor time against West Coast Baptist, nine of them getting on the scoreboard in the contest.

The Red Hawks will compete in their first tournament of the year against Menlo College and William Jessup on Nov. 2nd and 3rd.