The Park University men's basketball program was at home on Saturday against No. 22 Columbia College inside Breckon Sports Center. The Cougars and Pirates put on an entertaining game, one which Park was in it every step of the way. Columbia pulled away in the closing minutes though, 83-75. 

The Pirates are familiar with Columbia and these teams used to play often in the American Midwest Conference, most recently in 2019-20 which were two wins by Columbia. This makes three wins in a row for the Cougars in the all-time series. Park moves to 2-5 on the season, while Columbia is now 6-1, including a 5-1 record against Heart opponents.

The Pirates' Clarence King and Amaire Perkins both were major players in the 9-3 run to put Park on top 16-14. There would be six lead changes along the way in the first half to Park's 39-37 halftime lead. Off the bench, King scored 12 in the first half alone, while Otavio Armani was bolstering the Pirates offense with nine first half points.

Tyler Burrows and Armani got Park out to a 4-0 run in the second half for a six-point advantage, 43-37. This game was always tight though as Columbia always seemed to have the answer. Most of the time a drive and kick-out offense was sufficient for the Cougars, making 10-of-20 three-pointers in the second half. Park faired well themselves in this category with a four-of-10 effort from beyond the arc in the second half, including a trey from King with 13:57 to play to go up 53-51. King tied the game again with a triple after a 5-0 run by the Cougars to make it 56-56. For perspective of how close this was, this game was within a possession the rest of the way until the 2:37 mark when Columbia hit a jumper for a 74-70 lead. Altogether there were 14 ties and 28 lead changes in the game to remind us how classic these former AMC matchups could be. Mannie Odo's offensive board and a put-back got Park back to a two-point game, 74-72, but a 7-0 run two minutes made it 81-72 with only 20 seconds to go, their biggest lead of the day. Columbia would hold on for the win 83-75.

Columbia shot 50-percent from the field and 39.5-percent from three, or 15-of-38; while Park was 43.3-percent and 31.8-percent of the same, seven-of-22 from deep.

Free-throws were on Park's side with 27 attempts but with only 16 makes, points were left on the table. Columbia was eight-of-nine on the other end.

Columbia was feeling the defensive pressure with 15 turnovers, while Park held onto the ball with under 10 turnovers with seven. Park only had three more points off those turnovers though with 13.

King led Park with 23 points, while Armani and Burrows were in double-digits as well with 14 and 11-point performances. 

Odo led Park with seven rebounds and put in work on the offensive glass with five offensive boards.

King did a little of everything with four assists and three steals on the day to lead Park. Perkins was right in that category as well with nine points, three assists, and three steals.

Park will celebrate 150 years of Park University to open Heart of America Athletic Conference play with Baker University at 7:30pm inside Breckon Sports Center. This will be a jersey theme night with t-shirts thrown out at the women's game and a halftime shooting contest at the men's game. WATCH
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