The Park University men's basketball program looked to be in rhythm from start to finish against Clarke University on Thursday, outscoring the Pride 91-58 in Breckon Sports Center.

The Pirates are 8-7 overall with a 7-4 Heart of America Athletic Conference record, while Clarke is now 2-10 on the season and 2-6 in Heart play.

Within two minutes of play, the Pride had a 5-4 lead, but what transpired next was a shock to the entire Breckon Sports Center. The Pirates began to methodically score at will over the next several minutes, starting with two quick buckets by Jaden Robinson. From 17:37 to 11:18, the Pirates 24-0 scoring run to elevate Park big in this contest. The Pride were 0-9 in this span with four turnovers, while Park was led by 10 points from Robinson and eight points from Christian McRoberts. After a single made free-throw by Clarke, McRoberts went back to work with a three-pointer to make it 31-6 with 11:14 to play in the half. Raliek Redd, Shaun Holmes Jr., and Gagi Gvalia all pitched in under 10 minutes and helped Park to a 31-point lead with 7:14 to go, 41-10. Abubakar Kromah also got in on the action with two three-point plays, including a made three-pointer and an and-one, which gave Park its largest lead of the half 52-20. The Pride only shot 28-percent from the floor in the first half with 12 turnovers, while the Pirates were at 50-percent with only five turnovers, as the half expired 54-25.

There were no surprises in the second half, as starters saw limited action and Redd, Gvalia, and Davis all had double-digit minutes played. Outside of the starting five, 11 bench players saw playing time on Saturday. The Pirates' second half was highlighted by a 12-2 scoring run to give them their larges lead of the day at 37 points, 74-37 with 11:13 to play. Down the stretch, Amaire Perkins, in his first game, and Tyler Burrows made some plays, including a steal by Perkins that led to a transition dunk and both players made threes to end the second half. Park made a strong new year's statement with a 91-58 victory.

For the game, the Pirates shot 45.3-percent and Clarke was only at 32.8-percent from the floor.

Park and Clarke were even in three-point makes with seven apiece and both shot 30-percent or lower from beyond the arc.

Neither team had great free-throw shooting performances, 13-of-19 for Clarke and 16-of-29 for Park.

The Pirates outrebounded Clarke 50 to 36 on the day and Park had an outstanding 15 offensive rebounds.

19 turnovers plagued the Pride, while valuing the basketball was a point of emphasis for Park with only six turnovers for the game. Park had six more points off turnovers and 11 more second chance points.

The transition game was an asset for Park with 12 more points on fastbreak opportunities.

Robinson, McRoberts, and Kromah had point totals right in a row at 17, 16, and 15 points, respectively. McRoberts was the deep threat with a three-of-four day from beyond the arc. He was our guest for the Pirate Post-Game.

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Gvalia impressed with 12 points on four-of-six from the field and was four-of-five in free-throws.

Kromah was one rebound away from a double-double, while Christian Bradford was second in rebounding with seven boards.

McRoberts and Redd made the offense roll with five and four assists each.

Park will travel to Marshall, Mo. on Wednesday, January 8 to face off with Missouri Valley College at 7:30pm.  WATCH
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