In the final game of 2023, Park University's men's basketball program faced the undefeated Graceland University at Breckon Sports Center. Despite Park's competitive effort, the Yellow Jackets secured a 73-65 win, fueled by a 50-point second half.

The Pirates now hold a 6-6 overall record and a 4-4 conference record, while Graceland University maintained their perfect conference record (8-0).

The opening moments of the game set the tone for the first half, with a three-point shot from AJ Watson kicking off the scoring for Park. Augusto Hausmann's layup extended the Pirates' lead, but Graceland quickly retaliated, tying the game at 9-9 with back-to-back three-pointers.

DeMarcus Hudson, who played a pivotal role in the first half, extended Park's lead with two free throws and a steal-turned-layup. Jaden Robinson's steal, followed by a dunk and a subsequent layup, put the Pirates 8 points ahead of Graceland with 13 minutes left. As the clock ticked down, Park continued to control the game.

With less than five minutes remaining in the first half, Hudson's three-pointer and a pair of free throws boosted Park to a 27-19 lead. The half ended with the Pirates holding a 34-23 advantage, showcasing dominance inside the paint with 24 rebounds versus only 10 from the Yellow Jackets. Park heavily relied on the contributions of DeMarcus Hudson and Jaden Robinson, who added 15 and 11 points to the scoreboard, respectively.

The second half witnessed a dynamics shift as Graceland staged a determined comeback, reclaiming the paint dominance with a 16-9 rebounding advantage. Augusto Hausmann emerged as a key player for the Pirates, contributing 17 points in the half.

Entering the last part of the game, Hausmann led Park's offensive effort by contributing the initial 10 points. Graceland made a push, scoring 9 points and narrowing the deficit to 44-32 by the 16-minute mark, but Hausmann's layups kept the Pirates ahead.

The Yellow Jackets responded with an 8-2 run, aided by six points from free throws, tightening the difference to 45-50. Hausmann scored inside the paint, but a foul on a three-point attempt allowed Graceland three free throws, pushing the score to 48-52. The Yellow Jackets used the momentum to add one more free throw and a three-point basket, tying the game at 52-52 with ten minutes left.

The teams traded points until Graceland executed a 5-0 run at 7:19, taking a 61-56 lead in just one minute. After that, Park struggled to put points on the board, allowing the Yellow Jackets to achieve their largest lead at 68-57.

In the final minutes of the match, AJ Watson's free throws, Augusto Hausmann's jump shot, and Jaden Robinson's dunk narrowed the margin to 68-63. With 43 seconds on the clock, Park was 8 points down and called a timeout. The game concluded with minimal scoring, as Graceland added three free throws and Park one, resulting in the final score of 73-65.

Post-game statistics showed Park had only 2 points coming from the bench, while Graceland's rotation added 18 points to the result.

Jaden Robinson's double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds), Augusto Hausmann's 20 points and 9 rebounds, and DeMarcus Hudson's 15 points and 5 rebounds were key performances for Park.

The Pirates will return to the court next year on January 3rd at 7:30pm in Atchison, KS, as they take the Ravens from Benedictine College.