Park University's men's basketball program went head-to-head with the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton College on Saturday and did not have enough left in the tank against the home Wildcats. The second half looked to be the difference, as Park falls to Culver-Stockton, 70-59.

Culver-Stockton came out on top the second time this season against Park. On both occasions, the Wildcats were able to make something happen in the second half to come through with the win. Last time, overtime decided the game in a nine-point win for Culver-Stockton, while this time around the Wildcats won it in regulation by 11.

Park is brought to a 5-20 record with a 3-17 listing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Culver-Stockton has done marginally better with a 9-16 record and a 5-15 showing in the Heart.

Park was without three starters in the contest, including both Lucas and Drew Kroft, and Shahadah Camp.

Other Pirates stepped up in their place, including a career-high performance from Darius Jones. Jones is a junior from Hayti, Mo. and he made a definite impact with 12 points in the first half. He closed out the day with 14 points for a new career-high.

The game quickly slanted the Pirates direction with a 14-2 run in the first 5:16 of the game, forcing a full-timeout from Culver-Stockton.

Over the next four minutes, the Wildcats countered and made it 18-17. The Pirates were only two-for-eight in that stretch, but the two baskets they did score, Robert Rhodes was there for two key offensive rebounds that ended up leading to Park's two scores.

The Pirates were able to fight off the Wildcat runs and both teams had back-and-forth exchanges before the Wildcats took their first lead of the game since their opening bucket, 34-32 with under two minutes to go in the half.

With 33 seconds left on the clock, Park's DeMarcus Hudson regained the lead for Park with a three-pointer to send both teams to the locker room with a score of 35-34 Park.

Hudson was leaned on in this game and he came through for Park with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He also was a sharp five-of-10 from deep.

With four more turnovers in the second half than the Wildcats and only cracking a 35.7-percent from the field, it was only a matter of time before Culver-Stockton regained control.

At 14:57 in the game, Culver-Stockton took a slim lead 46-45. Not much ground was covered by either side from the next seven minutes and the score was tied at 50.

In the last 7:19 in the game though, Culver-Stockton outscored the Pirates, 20-9. In the end the final score ended up being 70-59 in favor of the Wildcats.

Park did not have a great performance from the free-throw line with a two-of-11 game. In all fairness, neither did Culver-Stockton with only a seven-of-12 performance from the same.

Park's inside players were working hard down-low with nine rebounds for Leon Kalinc, eight for Augusto Hausmann, and seven for Rhodes. The three of them were major contributors to Park's 42 rebounds to Culver-Stockton's 37.

The Pirates led in most other categories including points off of turnovers, points in the paint, and fastbreak points; but a big difference besides free-throw shooting was bench scoring. The Wildcats were able to bring in 19 points off the bench to Park's four.

Hausmann had 13 points in the game and was six-of-11 from the field, joining Hudson and Jones in double-figures.

Rhodes was the only other scorer with multiple field-goals, tallying five points.

This Wednesday, February 15 will be Senior Night, featuring three members of our men's basketball team, Shahadah Camp, Robert Rhodes, and DiCarlo Jackson. The senior ceremony will be five minutes before the 7:30pm tip-off against Central Methodist University. Watch the live-action here.

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