Park has won the last five of eight games against the Pioneers, but MidAmerica Nazarene has bested Park in the last three. After tonight, the series between these two even programs is 11-12, in favor of MidAmerica Nazarene.

The Pirates are still looking for their first win since the calendars flipped to 2023. The game that started this eight game drought, ironically was against MidAmerica Nazarene on January 4. Park's record is now 5-15 on the season and 3-12 in the Heart, while MidAmerica Nazarene has positioned themselves well at third in the Heart at 16-5 overall and 11-4 in conference play.

A pair of exceptional scoring performances were seen by Lucas Kroft and Augusto Hausmann, as they combined for 43 points. Kroft led the charge with a 25 spot on 11-of-19 from the field and was nearing double-double figures with eight rebounds. Lucas and Shahadah Camp were playmakers with the ball for their teammates with six and five assists, respectively.

The game started off with a back-and-forth 4-4 score, but over the next 2:20 on the clock an 11 point run flooded in for the Pioneers, 15-4.

Eight unanswered Park points in response, including six straight points from Lucas, forced a Pioneer timeout at 11:40 in the game.

MidAmerica Nazarene remained in the lead during the first half, but Park brought the game within one at 26-25 and then within two points to close out the half, 33-31. Drew Kroft came up big with a three-point make to send both teams to halftime in a close battle.

A quick 5-0 run captured the lead for Park 36-33. Camp hit on two shots from behind the arc to sum up a 10-2 scoring run from 16:37 to 13:23, giving Park the nine point lead, 46-37.
Park's biggest lead of 11 came at 12:14 after a Hausmann basket to put Park up 50-39.

A turning point in the game occurred though, as two consecutive three-point shots were nailed by the Pioneers to force a Park timeout at 10:12 with a score of 54-50.

The Pirates were able to fend off the Pioneers for the time being, but at 3:35 remaining, MidAmerica Nazarene reclaimed the lead for the final time 62-60.

A final scoring run of 6-2 for the Pioneers sealed the game 68-60, as Park could not get anything to land in the last 2:42 of the game.

On the game, Park out shot the Pioneers from the field, 44.1-percent to MidAmerica Nazarene's 39.4-percent.

Both teams were similar percentages, hovering around 30-percent, from beyond the arc. When it was all said and done, MidAmerica Nazarene had nine three-pointers to Park's five.

Not a lot of free-throws were taken in the game, as Park was five-of-seven and the Pioneers were seven-of-nine.

Both sides had 11 offensive rebounds in the game, but it translated to 16 second chance points for the Pioneers compared to only five for Park.

On the game, the Pirates held the rebounding advantage of 42 to 34.

A few big advantages for MidAmerica Nazarene were the 15 turnovers committed by the Pirates to only six for the Pioneers. MidAmerica Nazarene also had the edge with 39 points in the paint and 20 points off turnovers. Park had 32 and nine, respectively.

Hausmann was second in scoring tonight with 18 points, 14 of which came in the second half.

Drew and Camp both contributed seven and six points in the game, as both knocked down a pair of three-point jumpers.

Rhodes was an important rebounder with nine boards, five on the offensive side of the glass.

Saturday, January 28 will be the next opportunity for redemption for Park. They are slated for a 2pm start against Clarke University in Breckon Sports Center. Watch the live-action here.

Box Score