REDDING, Calif. – Nick Stone dribbled through a scrambling defense for a tiebreaking layup with a minute left and Southern Oregon couldn't answer as Simpson (Calif.) won 75-70 on the opening night of the season Thursday at the Grant Center.
SOU's
Bryce Dyer notched his 19th career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Stone scored 19 and the Red Hawks had a slim edge for most of the contest after shooting 69% from the field in the first half to go up 42-35.
Back-to-back
Jace Anderson buckets inside gave the Raiders their first lead of the second at 64-61 with 4:12 remaining. Simpson came back with a 7-0 spurt before SOU's
Isaiah Bronson tied the game at the 1:37 mark – first finishing inside, then coming up with a blindside steal and going coast to coast.
Stone broke the tie, putting the Red Hawks up 70-68. Dyer's attempted response from 3-point range fell short and Simpson put the game away at the free-throw line.
Bronson had 14 points in his Raider debut. Tari Lofton, making his first collegiate appearance, impressed off the bench with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Brady Rice scored eight of his 13 in the first half and Anderson finished with nine.
The Raiders wrapped at 46% from the field but were marred by a 1-of-10 performance from 3 in the second half and Simpson's 25-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
Four Red Hawks hit double figures. Their starters combined to hit 22-of-35 attempts.
The Raiders resume their non-conference schedule Nov. 6-7 at the Lithia-Oregon Tech Classic, where they'll see No. 20-ranked Hope International (Calif.) and No. 17 The Master's (Calif.).