ASHLAND, Ore. - The men's basketball squad closed out the 2025 calendar year on the road against Southern Oregon tonight. 

The Raiders drew first blood on a deep three-pointer to begin the night's scoring before Timothy Parker converted 1-2 from the line to get Simpson on the board. 

Southern Oregon grabbed the eight-point lead midway through the first half before a three-pointer by Kellen Torrey sparked the Red Hawks' 13-2 run to take the 26-22 lead. 

Preston Kilbert followed Torrey's deep three with a huge defensive steal that he converted on a fast break layup. Dylan Harms chipped in with a tough layup in the pain that drew a foul as he converted the basket and the and-one free throw, while Nian Allen and Parker posted four points each. 

But the Raiders battled back as they went on an 18-6 run as Jack Jillson posted the final two buckets of the first half on layups to make it a 40-32 SOU lead. 

Simpson opened the second half with a three-pointer by Allen on the Red Hawks' opening possession to pull within five. 

The Red Hawks regained the lead on a steal by Parker as he fed Allen for the go-ahead layup to give Simpson the 47-46 lead. 

A three-pointer by Aidan Rolfs midway through the second half extended Simpson's largest lead of the night to eight points, 62-54. 

The Raiders answered, but the Red Hawks responded each time as they retained a seven-point lead with four and a half minutes left in regulation. 

Southern Oregon broke through with eight straight points to take the 77-76 lead with less than three minutes left. 

Parker came through off his own miss on a key tip-in to give Simpson the one-point advantage with just over a minute left before the Raiders responded immediately on a layup to regain the lead. 

Allen looked to be the hero as he came through with the go-ahead layup with thirty seconds left in the game to give Simpson the one-point advantage.

However, a crucial foul with seconds left in the game allowed the Raiders to convert on the game-tying and game-winning shots from the free throw line.  

The Red Hawks' last gasp came on a missed jumper as time expired, as SOU held onto the thrilling 81-80 victory. 

Parker and Allen led the offense with 22 points each as they combined for eight assists and seven rebounds. 

Rolfs had a big night beyond the arc as he drilled a team-high four three-pointers and notched eight rebounds. 

Simpson looks to be back in action on January 5th as they take on Pacific Union College to conclude their nonconference play. 
 

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