Park University's men's basketball program traveled to Des Moines, Iowa for a Wednesday night game against Grand View University, but the Vikings got the best of the Pirates, 83-68.

The Pirates have hit a slump in the last half of the season and are on a four-game losing streak over the last two weeks. Park is now 8-15 and 6-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and three games back from No. 8 Grand View in the Heart standings. The Vikings are now 11-12 on the season and 9-11 in the Heart.

Demarcus Hudson and Augusto Hausmann put Park up 4-0 in the early going of the game. Jaden Robinson showcased his defensive prowess as well with a block out of the gate on a Viking coming through the lane. The Vikings countered though with a 7-0 run to reach a 7-4 lead at the 13:24 mark. Both teams alternated threes, as Robinson hit from deep to tie the game at 7, but then two consecutive three-pointers gave Grand View a 6-point lead with 12:17 left, 13-7. Those two three-pointers would just be the opening shots of a greater 13-0 run to give Grand View a 20-7 lead with 10:20 to go. Park was able to get the Grand View lead down to single-digits on a few occasions in the first half, but within the last five minutes of the half an 18-5 scoring differential heavily favored Grand View for a 19-point halftime lead, 45-26.

Robinson and Hausmann started off the second half with a dunk and lay-in for a 4-0 run, like the start of the game. Hudson hit a three-pointer to make it 47-33 with 16:43 left on an assist by Jasigha Barnes. In the first portion of the second half there was little opportunity for the Pirates to gain ground on the Vikings, but instead Grand View had a 5-0 run to reach their largest lead to this point of 21 with 12:46 to go, 64-43. AJ Watson had two second half three-pointers to help give a boost to the Pirates, but there was still work to do at 74-58 with 3:45 left in the game. Hudson had a pair of free-throws in the last couple minutes of the game to make cut the lead down to 13, 77-64, but Grand View held for an 83-68 win.

Grand View shot 50.8-percent in the game, while the Pirates were 39.7-percent from the field.

Park caught up with Grand View's three-point shooting, as Grand View was five-of-16 compared to Park's four-of-17.

Points off free-throws were equal for both teams with Park shooting a slightly better percentage, 14-of-19 from the strike for Park to Grand View's 14-of-21.

The turnover battle was close and Park had two less turnovers than the Vikings, 12 to 14. Grand View though was more efficient off the turnovers with 18 points compared to 13 for the Pirates.
14 fastbreak points were scored by Grand View to only two by Park.

27 points were scored from Grand View's bench to only 13 by the Pirates.

Barnes was the high scorer with 15 points, while Hausmann was right behind with 14 points on the night.  Hausmann had the second highest rebound total for Park with seven.

Hudson was over double-digits with 11 points, while Watson and Robinson contributed eight and seven points to the cause.

Christian Bradford was a workhorse on the glass with nine rebounds.

Park is a in a must win situation in their next game against Clarke University on Saturday, February 10 in Dubuque, Iowa at 2pm. WATCH
Box Score