Park University's men's basketball program put a good game plan together against Central Methodist University on Saturday in Breckon Sports Center, 78-67.
Park steps up to 11-15 on the season and 9-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Eagles have had a good year in their own right at 19-7 and 15-7 in conference play.
The Pirates celebrate the accomplishment of
Augusto Hausmann, the fifth year senior from Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil, who scored his 1,000
th point in a Pirate uniform on Saturday. Hausmann is the source of key leadership and experience on the Pirates' squad with the experience in the 2020-21 NAIA Opening Round with Park.
The Eagles came out with a nine-point lead at the 12:51 mark in the first half with a 17-8 lead. Under 10 minutes,
Jasigha Barnes took things into his control with seven consecutive points for the Pirates to bring Park within two possesions, 26-21 with 6:50 to play in the half. Five points for
Kelyn Bolton towards the tail-end of the half and an
AJ Watson layup, gave Park the lead 32-31 at the 2:01 mark. The lead went back-and-forth two more times before the Eagles led 36-34 to end the half.
There were six ties and seven lead changes in the game, which made for an entertaining second half. Neither side gained much ground on the other in the second half, but Watson and
Jaden Robinson both played lights out with 14 and 10 second half points to eventually give Park the advantage. Watson gave Park a three-point lead at the 11:51 mark, 50-47. Then the combination of Robinson and Barnes gave the Pirates a six-point lead at the 10:15 mark, 55-49. Park worked up to a nine-point lead after a
Christian Bradford layup at the 8:04 mark, 63-54. Park stayed on the offensive and led by 10 points with under five minutes to play, which led into their largest lead of 11 points with under a minute to go. Park took care of the ball down the stretch to hold on for the 78-67 win. Both teams led by 11, but Park took the momentum at the best time with the clock running down.
Park shot 50-percent for the game to only 34.4-percent for the Eagles. Central Methodist went cold from beyond the arc at only 22.2-percent, which under performed Park's 23.1-percent.
Central Methodist owned 18 second chance points to Park's eight, but the Pirates were living in the paint with 52 compared to only 26 for the Eagles.
Robinson finished with 20 points, Watson with 16, and Barnes with 14. Robinson barely missed out on a double-double with nine rebounds. Bradford had a balanced game with eight boards and seven points.
The Pirates will be back in action on Wednesday, February 21 at 7:30pm in Marshall, Mo. to face Missouri Valley College.
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