REDDING, Calif. - The men's basketball team dropped its first game of the two-game home stand to begin the New Year with a loss to Cal Pac rival St. Katherine 70-56.
Simpson would have a hot start as
Garrett Streufert would score the first points of the night on a mid-range jumper.
Akin Branco would create an impact play on a steal and then finish with a huge dunk followed by a three-ball from
Parker Martens to give Simpson the early 7-0 lead.
The Firebirds would break the 7-0 run with a bucket of its own but Martens would answer back with his second consecutive three-pointer of the game.
However, a 9-0 USK run would give them its first lead of the night 11-10.
The Red Hawks and Firebirds would jostle back and forth as they exchanged buckets.
Martens would end the first half scoring for the Red Hawks with his third three-pointer of the game to pull Simpson within five points as they headed into the half down 35-30.
Martens would have a strong first half with a team-high nine points as he shot 3-5 from the floor while going a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc.
Derek Gorden would follow close behind with seven points.
Simpson would strike first off a layup by
Akin Branco after a
Sam Shields steal.
Shields would hit back-to-back buckets to pull Simpson within one.
However, the Firebirds would pull away in the second half as they outscored Simpson 35-26 to claim the 70-56 road victory.
Parker Martens would have a huge night with a team-high 19 points and five steals.
Sam Shields would have a solid night with 10 points to go along with three rebounds.
Garrett Streufert would have a big game in the paint as he recorded a team-high six rebounds to go along with six points.
With the loss, Simpson falls to a tie for fifth place with Park-Gilbert in the Cal Pac standings.
Simpson will look to bounce back and continue its two-game home stand this Saturday when they take on Westcliff University at 7:30 PM.
