IRVINE, Calif. - The men's basketball team dropped its first game of the SoCal road trip to Westcliff University 54-69.

The Warriors jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before a Parker Martens three-pointer got Simpson on the board followed by an Osumanu Nuhu layup to give Simpson its first lead of the game. 

The Warriors grabbed a six-point lead midway through the first half. 

But back-to-back free throws by Nuhu followed by a jumper by Drey Ubas helped pull Simpson pull within two points with just under eight minutes left in the first half. 

Westcliff extended its largest lead of the night to seven points with just under five minutes to play before a 9-1 Red Hawks run helped them grab the 28-27 lead with under a minute to play. 

Back-to-back jumpers by Martens and Derek Gorden followed by a Sam Shields tip-in off a Gorden missed shot helped pull Simpson within one point until a Trey Conrad free throw tied the game at 26. 

Following a Warrior free throw, Parker Martens converted on a layup for his ninth point of the game to give Simpson the lead momentarily until a late Warrior three-pointer gave Westcliff the 30-28 lead. 

Martens had a team-high nine points in the first half while Garrett Streufert and Sam Shields combined for 10 out of the team's 17 rebounds. 

The first points of the second half belonged to Nuhu as he converted on a layup in the paint. 

A Drey Ubas steal found the bucket on a fast break layup by Martens to tie the game 33-33 early in the second half. 

But the Warriors created a double-digit lead as they held a commanding 16 point lead with just over two minutes left in the game. 

Simpson fought but could not complete the comeback as they fell to the Warriors for the second time this season. 

Parker Martens had himself quite the game as he had a team-high 15 points to go along with eight rebounds. 

Martens has caught fire late in the season as he is averaging 20.3 PPG over the last three games. 

Sam Shields had a big night in the paint as he notched 10 points to go along with eight rebounds. 

Simpson looks to end its year strong as they take on St. Katherine University on Saturday at 4 PM.