UCC Riverhawks Mens Basketball 85-74 Southwestern Oregon

Junior guard Marcus Thompson erupted for a game-high 28 points to power the UCC Riverhawks past Southwestern Oregon 85-74 in non-conference men's basketball action Tuesday night at the Riverhawks' home court.

Thompson connected on six three-pointers and went 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, providing the offensive spark that helped UCC pull away from a stubborn Lakers squad in the second half. The Riverhawks shot 52 percent from the field and dominated the glass, outrebounding Southwestern Oregon 41-29.

"Marcus was in a zone tonight," said UCC head coach Ryan Martinez. "When he gets hot like that, it opens up everything else for our offense."

The victory improves the Riverhawks to an impressive 26-6 overall as they continue building momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. UCC led by just four points at halftime before Thompson's third-quarter explosion helped create separation.

Senior forward Jake Williams added 18 points and 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season, while point guard Tyler Davis contributed 14 points and seven assists. The Riverhawks forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 24 points.

Southwestern Oregon was led by sophomore guard Alex Rivera's 22 points, but the Lakers shot just 41 percent from the field and struggled to contain UCC's balanced attack.

The Riverhawks will look to extend their winning streak when they return to conference play this weekend.