Thompson puts up 30 and 10, SOU pulls away late at Simpson

11/25/2014 10:19:00 PM

SOU Sports Information

REDDING, Calif. – All five of Southern Oregon’s starters scored in double figures Tuesday night, but Eric Thompson couldn’t help being the story again in the Raiders’ 85-74 win at Simpson that made them 7-1 on the season.

Thompson torched the Redhawks for the second time this season with 30 points, going 10-for-17 from the field with six 3-pointers and 10 rebounds to help the 17^th-ranked Raiders pull away late.

SOU built an early 22-9 lead that collapsed by the break, as Anthony Williams made three free throws with time expired for a 38-37 Simpson edge. A 13-2 Raider run, capped by two Thompson triples and then a Tim Weber 3-point play, had SOU up 70-58 with five minutes left.

Weber – who three weeks ago had a triple-double against the Redhawks in a 90-78 SOU overtime victory – was everywhere again with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Point guard Joel Spear went 4-for-5 with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Jordan West had 14 points and four rebounds, and Jacob Kaler chimed in with 12 points and five boards.

The Raider bench went scoreless and accounted for just one field-goal attempt on a 54-percent night from the field (30-for-56).

Thompson, who scored 17 points in the second half, now has four double-doubles this season and a pair of 30-point games in his last three. He’s also made over half his shots in each of the last five games and totaled 27 points and 12 boards the first time around against Simpson.

Simpson went 15-for-30 in the first half but cooled down in the second, misfiring on 11 of 15 shots from downtown. Williams led the Redhawks with 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Shaquille Jones contributed 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Ian Corella had 12 points.

SOU is at Menlo’s Bud Presley Classic for games Friday against 22^nd-ranked California Maritime and Saturday against Menlo.