Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Park University's men's basketball program was in Lawrence, Kan. on Thursday and Friday last week, November 7 and 8, for the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic hosted by Haskell Indian Nations University. Park made out of there with a 1-1 record, defeating Northern New Mexico College in four overtime periods, but falling to University of Saint Mary by four points.

The Pirates are now 1-3 through the quick non-conference portion of their schedule with two of their losses coming within two possession contests. Two of Park's opponents are represented in the NAIA's recent ratings, as Georgetown College is now No. 5 and William Woods University is receiving votes.

Northern New Mexico College Box Score | W, 106-100

It was a close matchup with Northern New Mexico, a Continental Athletic Conference opponent, as it came down to four overtimes to decide a winner. Park finally gained some separation from the Eagles in the fourth overtime with six points of leeway for the 106-100 win.

The last time Park had multiple overtimes played was December 7, 2022 in Marshall, Mo. in a double overtime win over Missouri Valley. In fact, the most overtime periods played in a game by Park in recent memory was a triple overtime win 82-80 over Freed-Hardeman in January, 2019. A 4OT game could very well be the most in program history.

Jacob Barnett and Jaden Robinson led the way scoring for Park with 33 and 20-point days, respectively. This was a career-high for Barnett, who was four-of-five from beyond the arc, while Robinson matched his second highest points in a game, right behind his 25 points this past year's Heart Quarterfinal against Baker University. Robinson was just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards.

Jasigha Barnes scored 11 points and was second most in rebounds for Park with seven. He could have reached a triple-double with nine assists on the day as well.
Also in double-figure scoring was Shawndale Ross with 13 points and Abubakar Kromah with a 10-point performance.

Park was eight-of-16 from three-point range, while the Eagles were 10-of-22 of the same.

From the field, both teams were north of shooting 50-percent. The Pirates had by far the most free-throw opportunities with 22-of-37 compared to Northern New Mexico's eight-of-14.

Park had 14 more total rebounds than the Eagles at 48 to 34, while also outrebounding their opponent in offensive rebounds, 20 to eight.

This game featured 16 ties and 17 lead changes as well.

Saint Mary (Kan.) Box Score | L, 77-73

It was another close contest with the Spires, as Park was within a possession in the score totals for both halves.

Midway through the first half, the Spires were aided by a 10-0 run from 14:25 on the clock to 10:50 remaining, as Jamaal Davis' bucket ended the drought to make it 20-10. The Pirates went on an 8-0 run of their own featuring another two points from Davis and a Tristan McRoberts two-point jumper to make it 20-16 with under 10 minutes to play in the first half. Park did not take the lead from Saint Mary for the remaining minutes of the first half, despite tying the game 25-25 with 5:21 to go. The Spires had four more three-pointers and five more made free-throws in the first half and they held on to a narrow three-point lead at the end of the first half, 37-34.

Thanks two back-to-back buckets by Barnes, the Pirates gained a three-point lead over Saint Mary at the 18:13 mark. Park held on to a one possession lead for the next three minutes before Saint Mary tied it back up 48-48 with 15:24 remaining. The Spires led by as much as nine points 62-53 after a made three with 7:49 to go. Park did what they could to keep things in reach, but the Spires upped the ante to a 10-point lead 68-58 with 6:15 to play. A three-pointer made by Barnett capped off an 11-4 run that brought the game within three points 72-69 with 2:18 left. The Spires made five-of-six freebies to seal the game 77-73 in the end.

Barnett again was the leading scorer for Park with 21 points. Barnes approached double-double numbers, but was one rebound shy with 13 points and nine boards.
Robinson and Ross continued to give great support from the bench with 12 and 10-point performances.

Both teams shot 46-percent from the field and neither team lit it up from three-point range. 13 more free-throws were made for the Spires, despite Park having the better percentage, 78-percent to 75-percent.

Rebounds were about even, 32 for the Pirates and 30 for the Spires.

Despite forcing three more turnovers, the Pirates had two less points off those turnovers. The Spires doubled the second chance scoring with 12 points to Park's six.
The Pirates' bench had 32 points, while Saint Mary only had eight.

The Pirates begin Heart of America Athletic Conference play with Grand View University at 7:30pm in Breckon Sports Center on Wednesday. WATCH