REDDING, Calif. - The men's team looked to bounce back tonight as they took on California Maritime Academy in its conference home opener. 

Senior Derek Gorden owned the first points of the game on a layup to give Simpson the early lead. 

But the Keelhaulers scored seven unanswered points to take the 7-2 lead. 

Cal Maritime extended its lead to 15 points midway through the first half before the Red Hawks began to chip away. 

The Red Hawks connected for 10 straight points to pull within five as they faced the 22-17 deficit. 

A jumper by Kellen Torrey began the rally as Drey Ubas and Timothy Parker nailed back-to-back three-pointers capped off by two free throws by Gorden. 

A three-pointer by Torrey to close out the first-half scoring pulled the Red Hawks back within nine points as they went into the half trailing 36-27. 

Jace Mills began the second half scoring on a layup in the paint on the Red Hawk's opening possession. 

But Cal Maritime led by as much as 16 points with just under 14 minutes left in regulation before Simpson mounted its second-half comeback efforts. 

A 16-3 run started by a layup by Osumanu Nuhu pulled the Red Hawks within a one-possession game with just under six minutes left in the second half. 

Nuhu and Parker accounted for 13 combined points as Trey Conrad added a three-pointer. 

However, the Keelhaulers never relinquished the lead as they rebuilt its lead back to 10 with just over a minute left in regulation as they held onto the 64-59 road victory. 

Parker had another big game as he posted a team-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds. 

Nuhu had a solid game off the bench as he posted 11 points to go along with four rebounds. 

Simpson looks to bounce back this week on Saturday as they take on UC Merced at 4 pm.
 

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