Park University's men's basketball program was in for a close game against Benedictine College on Wednesday evening. The Pirates had just enough left in the tank for the 61-60 win against the Ravens in Breckon Sports Center.
Both team came into the game with the same conference records, but it would be Park to make it to 8-13 and Benedictine settles for 7-14. On the season Park is 10-15, while the Ravens are now 8-16.
Park has had a tough time with the Ravens as of late, falling in the last five contests. The Pirates got the best of the Ravens though and the Pirates are 4-6 in the last 10 matchups.
The Ravens began the game with a three-pointer to get on the board. The Pirates responded the best way you can by rattling off an 11-0, marked by five points by
AJ Watson and four points by
Jaden Robinson in that span to lead 11-3 at 15:48. The lead would bump up to 12 points off of a layup by
Augusto Hausmann and a made three-point jumper by
Jasigha Barnes. Both teams traded some baskets as the game approached 10 minutes left in the half, but not before
Kelyn Bolton knocked down a three of his own. This would immediately be answered at the other end, but Park maintained the 10-point lead with 10:32 to go, 21-11. Benedictine scored a the 9:36 mark, but outside of that both team had a scoring drought that lasted until a made free-throw by Park's
Gagi Gvalia at 6:41. The Pirates were six-of-15 from beyond the arc in the first half, while Benedictine was five-of-11 of the same in the half. Three of Park's threes came inside five minutes in the first half, as Park stayed on the offensive against the Ravens outscoring them 18-13 in the last 10 minutes of the first half for a 39-24 lead. This would be the largest lead of the game of 15 points.
The Ravens began the second half with two made three-pointers in their first two possessions, while Hausmann had a bucket in side in between those shots.
Jaden Robinson announced himself with a key three-point play on an and-one at the 18:13 mark.
Christian Bradford got the next points in the paint for Park at 16:52 for a 46-32 lead, but Park would not score again until 11:47. Meanwhile, a 10-0 run by the Ravens brought the game within four points, 46-42. Bradford and Barnes combined for a 5-0 run to get Park back to a 10-point lead at 6:11, 56-46. There would be a big push by Benedictine to stay in the game though with a second 10-0 run to tie the game at 56-56 with 2:11 to go. With only three points in the game, but it may have been the biggest shot of the game, was
Eli Habighorst who hit the corner three for the eventual game-winning shot at the 1:08 mark to give Park a 61-58 lead. Benedictine was down one-point in the final seconds and had an opportunity for the final shot, but it did not go down and Park survived the rally, 61-60.
Park was 36-percent from the field compared to 47-percent by Benedictine.
The Pirates neutralized the three-point shots by Benedictine though, as both teams made 8 three-pointers, Park at 32-percent and Benedictine at 36-percent.
Benedictine got to the line five more times than the Pirates, but did not have a good night from the stripe, as Park was nine-of-13 to the Ravens' eight-of-18.
Park took care of the ball with only 10 turnovers compared to the Ravens' 10.
The Pirates won the rebounding battle with 39 total rebounds with 15 offensive boards compared to 33 and seven of the same for Benedictine.
This game was tied twice in the second half, but after the initial lead change in the first few minutes of the game, the lead was held nearly the entire duration by the Pirates.
It was a steady night by Watson with a team leading 16 points and four assists. He was tonight's Pirate Post-Game interview off of his performance.
Barnes made it past the 10-point mark with 11, while Robinson was just under double-figures at nine points. 19 bench points helped the Pirates along the way and eight-of-nine players on the floor contributed points.
Christian Bradford led the rebounding effort with eight boards and four offensive rebounds within that total.
DeMarcus Hudson and Robinson were next in line with six rebounds each.
The Pirates will move on to their next Heart opponent on Saturday, February 17 at home against Central Methodist University at 4pm.
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