REDDING, Calif. - The men's basketball squad looked to pick up its first conference win tonight as they took on UC Merced. 

The Bobcats drew first blood on a couple of free throws before a three-pointer by Derek Goden gave Simpson its first lead of the game.

Facing a four-point deficit, the Red Hawks caught fire as they went on a 9-0 run to take the five-point lead, 22-15. 

DaMari Tate started the rally with a three-pointer to pull Simpson within one followed by a buckets by Jace Mills and Drey Ubas. 

The Red Hawks extended its largest lead of the first half 19-14 on a three-pointer by Jack Jillson. 

However, the Bobcats could not miss from beyond the arc as they connected on five straight three-pointers to take the 30-24 lead. 

The Red Hawks countered as they nailed three straight threes. Two by Ubas and one by Jillson. 

A layup by Osumanu Nuhu followed by a three-pointer by Gorden gave Simpson the 38-37 lead. 

The Bobcats had the last laugh before the half as they drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer to take the 44-41 advantage. 

Ubs had a team-high 12 points while shooting 4-7 from the floor in the first half.



Jace Mills got the scoring going for Simpson in the second half as he converted on a tough bucket in the paint for an and-one to pull Simpson within three, 46-43. 

The Red Hawks nipped at the Bobcat's heels all game as they pulled within one halfway through the second half on a layup by Kellen Torrey. 

Simpson's last gasp came within one minute as Tate hit a highly contested layup to pull within four, 76-72. 

The Bobcats held onto the 80-74 victory to sink the men's squad to 0-3 in conference play. 

Senior Derek Godren notched a team-high 19 points and five three-pointers to go along with four rebounds. 

Jace Mills had a big game in the paint as he picked up 14 points to go along with a team-high five rebounds as he shot a perfect 6-6 from the floor. 

The Red Hawks look to bounce back this week as they take on Nelson University from Arizona in a nonconference matchup Tuesday at 7 pm. 
 

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