The Park University men's basketball team was in Breckon Sports Center on Wednesday night against Haskell University. Park and Haskell had an exciting second half of play, ending in a 61-57 win for Park.

Park and Haskell met within a week of this game and it was another close one, siding with Haskell 80-78. Park moves to 2-4 on the season after the win and Haskell drops to 3-6.

It was a slow start for both sides with only a 24-18 halftime score in favor of the Pirates. Haskell went on a 6-0 run early for a 6-2 lead and they would hold on to the lead until 12:15 when Bayley Crawford tied it with an and-one. The Pirates worked their way to a six-point lead after a two-point jumper from Mikkel Cintron, a three by Otavio Armani, and a steal and score by Amaire Perkins, 18-12. It would be a four-minute scoring drought for Park and two three-point plays by Haskell tied it at 18-18. Park went on their own 6-0 run to end the half 24-18. Both sides were under 30-percent from the field in the first half and under 20-percent from beyond he arc. 

The second half picked up and both teams were 48-percent from the field. Armani and Burrows started the scoring for Park with back-to-back buckets for a 10-point lead, 28-18. Even with Park scoring to open play in the second half, Haskell made three shots from deep along with two other lay-ins and Head Coach Jason Kline called timeout at 16:48 in a one-point game, 32-31. It stayed within a possession with four lead changes all the way up to the 9:10 mark when Burrows hit a three-pointer to give Park a 48-44 lead. There would be two more lead changes before Burrows sank three shots from the line and Mannie Odo scored two consecutive buckets for a five-point lead with 2:40 left, 55-50. There would be no more lead changes as good defense and hitting free-throws sealed the deal for Park, 61-57. Haskell had an opportunity with five seconds left down three points, but turned it over on the in-bounds pass without getting a shot off.

Park had four more turnovers than Haskell with 20, but Haskell only managed to get 12 points out of those turnovers, compared to 20 for the Pirates. 

Eight more second chance points helped the Pirates and both teams had good production from the bench, 14 points for Haskell and 13 for Park.

Altogether there were eight lead changes and five ties in the game. 

Burrows led the charge with 24 points with three three-pointers. 

Crawford had a double-double on 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Armani was one point shy of a double-double with 11 rebounds for the game.Odo played his role as a sixth man with seven points and five rebounds.

Perkins co-led with Burrows and Armani with three steals for the game and Perkins also grabbed five boards. 

Park will have another test at home against No. 22 Columbia College on Saturday, November 15 at 3pm in Breckon Sports Center. WATCH
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