CALDWELL, Idaho- Simpson University men's basketball notched their first win of the season Saturday night in great fashion. The Red Hawks took down 23rd ranked COI Yotes 83-65 for the first time in program history.
 

A night after the Red Hawks were defeated by the Yotes, they bounced back quickly and set a tone with their intensity and effort on the glass and Head Coach Todd Franklin believes that made a massive difference, "We have so much respect for COI and how they play and we just wanted to make sure we matched their effort for 40 minutes to make sure we crashed the boards as hard as they do," Franklin says.
 

It was a tale of two games as Simpson led by as much as 23 against the 23rd ranked club and dominated most of the night as they led the entire second half. The Red Hawks made their adjustments honing in on the rebounding battle and sharing the basketball and the result was evident out on the hardwood.

"Our focus in film was playing within ourselves and making sure we didn't settle for good shots but instead be patient and get a great shot and 20 assists later you could say that we did just that," Todd Franklin says.
 

Many Simpson players had a major impact in the win led by Mason Johnson who finished with a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds. JT Branch was also a monster inside finishing with 12 boards alongside 21 points while only missing one shot from the field in 10 attempts.
 

Head Coach Todd Franklin stated that finding open teammates was a focus going into tonight and the assists numbers were a direct result as Dylan Banks notched eight dimes as well as nine points and Christian Alvis-Labadie finished with six assists. Aidan Falls also was a key contributor off the bench with 12 points all from three-point range.
 

"This is such a huge win for our program especially with it being such a great team effort," Franklin says.
 

With the win tonight, it is clear that this is just the beginning for Simpson men's basketball in the 2021 season and Cal Pac Conference action just ahead the Red Hawks are finding their stride at the perfect moment.
 

Simpson will be back in action on Friday, January 29th against Portland State University as the Red Hawks look to continue their momentum.