Park University's men's basketball program was unable to keep pace with the Wildcats of Baker University on Wednesday night, ending in an 83-67 win for Baker.  

Park is .500 all around on the season at 4-4 and 2-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, while the Wildcats make the jump to 6-3 and 4-1 in conference play.

Before Thanksgiving the Pirates put up a season-high nine three-pointers in their win against MidAmerica Nazarene, but the deep ball wasn't there last night with only a three-of-15 total from beyond the arc, while Baker was eight-of-19.

While the game was tied twice, Park never gained a lead on Baker. AJ Watson tied the game at 4-4 with a three-pointer, but was instantly met with a Baker three-pointer as they took a 7-4 lead. Watson and Baker's Harvey Quentin again exchanged three-point baskets in a mini three-point shootout between the two in the first 4:16 of play. Quentin's three put Baker up 10-7 but a dunk by the Wildcats gave them a 12-7 lead at the 15:19 mark. Park's Jaden Robinson was let loose on a dunk of his own and a lay-in to make it a 14-12 game at 11:33. A 5-0 run happened directly after to gain a seven-point advantage, 19-12 with just over 10 minutes left in the half. Robinson and Christian Bradford tag teamed it for another four points for Park to inch closer at 21-19. Both teams were back and forth for the next few exchanges and Park was only one-point down on Baker at 27-26 off of a Watson free-throw at 4:18. Park fought to stay with Baker, but in the last two minutes of the half an 11-0 run was a huge turning point in the game.

Park was down 43-30 to begin the second half and all their three-pointers for the game were spent, as Park was 0-of-7 from beyond the arc contrasting with Baker's 4-of-9.

Within the first three minutes of the second half, Baker went up 16 points, 47-31. From 15:54 to 11:59, the Pirates regained some ground on Baker with an 12-2 run to arrive at 51-45. Augusto Hausmann and DeMarcus Hudson came through with six and four points in that span, respectively. Baker then turned the six-point lead into a 14-point lead with an 8-0 run that lasted to 10:56, 59-45. Despite some sparks on the offensive end, Baker continued to maintain the upper hand but another 8-0 run gave Baker a 75-54 lead with 5:29 remaining. This all built up into Baker's largest lead of the game of 22 points at 2:18 and they would go on to defeat Park 83-67.   

Hausmann led Park with 15 points, while Jaden Robinson was one point back at 14 for the game. Watson was also over 10 points for the game with 12 and defensively he and Hudson led the way with three steals apiece.

Hudson contributed a nice game with nine points and six rebounds.

Bradford was the rebounding leader for the Pirates with 10 and was just shy of a double-double off the bench with seven points.

It was not a big difference in field-goal percentage from either side, 42.3-percent from Baker and 40-percent for Park.

A difference came in free-throw percentage though, as Park shot 57.1-percent to the Wildcats' 75-percent.

The Pirates had three more turnovers than Baker at 16 to 13, which amounted to five more points for the Wildcats off turnovers, 14 to nine.

Baker also edged Park in second chance points with 13 compared to six.

The Wildcats looked to some of their depth on the bench with 38 points coming from non-starters to only 11 for the Pirates.

Park looks to regroup before traveling to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to face Mount Mercy University on Saturday, December 2 at noon. WATCH
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