REDDING, Calif. - In need of a win in order to clinch postseason berth, the Red Hawks showed up pulling off a 12 point victory over UC Merced, 74-62.

The final 30 minutes of the contest was controlled by Simpson forcing the Bobcats into 23 turnovers that resulted in 26 points. An all-around effort from Simpson's starting group with 65 of the team's 74 points.

On Jalen DuPree's senior night, he put on a passing clinic, threading the needle multiple times dishing out eight assists as well as recording 15 points and five steals. Aron Rudd tallied 19 points and 9 rebounds.

Simpson bounces back from a tough loss to Maritime to qualify for the Cal Pac tournament next week and Coach Todd Franklin had a plan to block out the other scenarios, "we decided to treat this game as the first round of the playoffs instead of a game to get in the playoffs and in Friday's practice you could just see it change the way our players approach the game mentally which obviously effects the game physically."

The Red Hawks will take on the top seed in Antelope Valley on Saturday at February 24th at 5:30 pm in Vallejo, Calif.