REDDING, Calif. - The men's basketball team opened up Thursday night with a huge win over Embry-Riddle to begin Conference play 1-0.
 

?? Final Score ??

Men's Basketball ????

?? Embry-Riddle

65-62

Let's Go Red Hawks!!!?????? pic.twitter.com/2oVlWjWOBd

— Simpson Red Hawks (@SimpsonRedHawks) December 1, 2023

The Eagles and Red Hawks played a highly contested match that went down to the wire. 

Freshman Parker Martens connected from beyond the arc to get Simpson on the board first to begin the night. 

Followed by a layup by Osumanu Nuhu extended Simpson's lead to five to begin the first half of play. 

However, the Eagles recaptured the lead on a 6-0 run followed by a 9-3 advantage giving the Eagles its largest lead of the first half as they went up 16-10. 

Drey Ubas connected on a three-pointer late in the first half to tie the game at 30.

Simpson would capitalize on a late Embry-Riddle foul that would send Trey Conrad to the line with less than one minute to play in the first half. 

Conrad would sink both shots to even the score at 32 going into the half. 

Ubas, Martens, and Nuhu led the offense in the first half as they each scored six points for a combined 18 points. 

Nuhu would pick up where he left off, as he slammed down a huge dunk to open the second half of play to give Simpson the 34-32 lead. 

For the next 20 minutes of play the Eagles and Red Hawks jostled back and forth for the lead as six lead changes occurred. 

Simpson would grab the lead with less than four minutes left on a key layup by Garrett Streufert followed by a go-ahead free throw by Sam Shields shortly after. 

The Red Hawks would compile a six-point lead with just over a minute left. 

But the Eagles answered back with four swift points to pull within two points with 30 seconds left. 

An Embry-Riddle foul would send Martens to the line in hopes of putting the game out of reach. 

But Martens would hit 1-2 from the line to extend the Red Hawks lead to three with 11 ticks on the clock. 

The Simpson defense rose to the occasion as they smothered ERAU's last gasp as Parker Marten's strong defensive play forced a game-sealing turnover. 

Sam Shields had quite the night in the paint and shooting from the floor as he led the Red Hawks with 15 points and seven rebounds while being a perfect 2-2 from beyond the arc. 

Martens had quite the game as well by finishing second on the team with 13 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals. 

Drey Ubas would round out the double-digit scorers with 10 points to go along with five rebounds on the night. 

Simpson will look to stay hot and sweep the two-game homestand as they take on La Sierra this Saturday at 8:30 PM. 
 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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