The Park University men's basketball program took care of business in Canton, Mo. on Saturday against Culver-Stockton College, earning the 75-68 win.  

Park has won five of their last seven games with the losses coming to two teams within the top four of the conference. The Pirates also have a win against a top four opponent as well in the Heart of America Athletic Conference in Peru State College.

Park moves to 13-10 on the season with a 12-7 Heart record, while the Wildcats have had it rough in 2024-25 at 4-17 and 4-13 in conference play.

This game was off to a 7-0 start for Park. Christian Bradford scored on back-to-back buckets, while fellow senior Jasigha Barnes hit a three-pointer to cap off that early run. Minutes later, Abubakar Kromah got to the line and then Barnes laid it on thick with another three-pointer to go up 14-2 with 15:40 to go. Two three-pointers in a row by the Wildcats gave some relief, but Tristan McRoberts showed that his stroke is pure too from distance and Park led 17-8 with 13:58 remaining. As time ticked off the clock, the Pirates held their ground and even added to their lead with a 9-2 run in just a couple of minutes from 8:34 to 6:42. Jamal Davis, Gagi Gvalia, and Shawndale Ross got in on the mix to bring Park to a 14-point lead, 31-17. After a Culver-Stockton timeout at 4:24, the Wildcats cut into the lead before the break going on a 9-2 run to make it 35-30. With under a minute to lay, Kromah was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two free-throws to make it a seven-point game heading into the locker room, 37-30.

Kromah and Bradford came out hot in the second half and the Pirates had a 6-0 run to get back to a double-digit lead, 43-30. A 4-0 run gave some life to the Wildcats as the half progressed, but Barnes was quick with a response at 13:35 for a 49-40 lead. Kromah kept the Wildcats' caged with a couple of scores, but in the next sequence, Tyler Burrows buried a three-pointer to help Park to an 11-point lead with 11 minutes to play, 56-45. Under 10 minutes, a big boost of offense came in on a three by Gvalia, a layup by Kromah, and another triple by Barnes to give Park its largest lead of 16 points at 8:15, 66-50. After a Kromah jumper to make it 70-57, it started to get interesting as an 8-0 run for the Wildcats made it a 5-point ball game with 2:52 to play, 70-65. Culver-Stockton managed to get a block on a Kromah drive, but Jaden Robinson was there to clean it up with a put-back. An offensive foul on the Wildcats hurt them as time was working against them. The next two three-point attempts were off for the Wildcats, forcing them to foul Park with 26 seconds to play. Kromah and Burrows sank free-throws to finish the game off despite another three-pointer by the Wildcats to come within seven, 75-68.

Park was 47.5-percent from the field compared to 34.7-percent for the Wildcats. Both teams had similar makes from behind the arc, but Park shot 46.7-percent from deep, while the Wildcats were only 25.8-percent.

Culver-Stockton made all their free-throws at eight-of-eight, while Park left some points on the board at 12-of-19.

Both teams were under 10 turnovers on the game, but Park had nine more points off of turnovers.

16 more second chance points came in for the Wildcats though, 22 to six.

Both teams had good production from the bench at 21 points for the Pirates and 18 for the Wildcats.

Kromah led Park with a double-double  on 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Bradford was also in double-double numbers with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Kromah and Barnes were great with finding the open man with six and five assists, respectively. Barnes finished his night with 11 points on a three-of-four day from behind the arc.

Park travels to Atchison, Kan. tonight to play Benedictine College at 7:30pm. WATCH
Box Score