UCC Riverhawks Mens Basketball 63-60 Mt Hood

Guard Marcus Thompson drained a clutch three-pointer with 47 seconds remaining to lift the Riverhawks past visiting Mt Hood 63-60 in a nail-biting non-conference clash Tuesday night at the UCC gymnasium. The men's basketball victory improved UCC to an impressive 26-6 overall as the regular season winds down.

Thompson finished with a game-high 18 points, including four three-pointers that kept the Riverhawks within striking distance throughout a back-and-forth contest. Mt Hood built an early 12-point lead in the first half behind hot outside shooting, but UCC chipped away steadily with balanced scoring from forwards Jake Martinez and Devon Clark.

The turning point came midway through the second half when the Riverhawks forced three consecutive turnovers, turning a six-point deficit into a 52-50 advantage. Martinez controlled the paint with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Clark contributed 12 points and several key defensive stops down the stretch.

Mt Hood refused to fold, tying the game 60-60 with under two minutes remaining before Thompson's heroics sealed the deal. The Saints shot 45% from the field but committed 16 turnovers that proved costly against UCC's pressing defense.

With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Riverhawks continue building momentum for what could be a deep postseason run. UCC returns to action Saturday when they travel to face conference rival Chemeketa in a crucial league matchup.