EUGENE – The Umpqua men’s basketball team begins play in the Dale J. Bates Invitational Tournament at Lane Community College on Friday afternoon. The Riverhawks have lost two straight contests since winning three straight to begin the season.

Freshman Grant Ellison has led UCC with an average of 21.2 points per game this year. The Utah native will try to help provide the Riverhawks with a first round win over South Puget Sound, which has gotten out to a 4-2 start and averages a Northwest Athletic Conference best 104.7 points per game.

Umpqua and South Puget Sound play the first game from the Bates Invitational. They tipoff at 2 p.m. 

The Umpqua women’s basketball team lost its first game of the season in its last contest and will try to bounce back on Saturday when the Lady Riverhawks host South Puget Sound in a non-conference game.

Freshman Jordan Stotler has been leading the Riverhawks in scoring. The Roseburg native is averaging 22.2 points per game and is third in the conference in scoring. She’s also third in the conference in rebounding and first in blocks.

Stotler and the Lady Riverhawks will try to get back in the win column against South Puget Sound on Saturday at 7 p.m.