The Park University men's basketball program took on Heart of America Athletic Conference opponent Mount Mercy University on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Pirates kept it close in the first half, but the Mustangs ran away with it in the second half, 95-65.

Park is now 7-9 on the year with a 4-4 Heart record, while the Mustangs are 9-8 on the year with a 4-5 Heart record. 

In the first five minutes of the game, the lead changed three times and there were three ties as Bayley Crawford threw down a dunk and Mannie Odo tied the game at 10-10 with 15:02 in the first  half. A 9-2 run would be the turning point in the first half though for Mount Mercy, as they led 19-12 with 12:47 remaining. Threes by Amaire Perkins and Mikkel Cintron got Park back within a point 24-23 with 9:31 remaining, but a three in response by the Mustangs took back a multiple possession lead. The Pirates were able to get the deficit down to four points two more times before the half winded down 43-37 in favor of the Mustangs.

 Eight-of-13 behind the arc in the second half for the Mustangs and shooting 54-percent from the field was tough to match for Park, as they were only 35-percent from the field and 2-of-10 from distance. A 12-2 run to start the first four minutes of the second half put Park in a hole at 55-39 with 15:53 to go. With neither side turning the ball over and the free-throw opportunities heavily favoring the Mustangs at nine-of-13 compared to two-of-three also prevented any comeback from the Pirates. Mount Mercy continued to grow their lead to 32 in the last 36 seconds before the final horn sounded, 94-65.

As a group, Park shot 37-percent from the field compared to 51-percent by the Mustangs. Compared to a 15-of-30 day from deep for Mount Mercy, the Pirtes were only four-of-22. Park converted on the opportunities from the line that they did get at 11-of-14, while Mount Mercy was at 14-of-21.

With only 10 combined turnovers on the day, both teams played a clean game. Second chance points was more of a difference with 15 second chance points for Mount Mercy and only six second chance points for Park.

Perkins for the first time in his career went over the 20-point mark with 22 points on Saturday and was the only Pirate with multiple made threes. Perkins also led the Pirates with three assists.

Odo was the next Pirate in scoring with 10 points, while Cintron and Otavio Armani were next in line at nine and eight-point contributions.

Armani was the leading rebounder with five boards for Park, but Odo, Tristan McRoberts, and Cintron each had four rebounds.

Park will look to course correct on Wednesday night against Grand View University at 7:30pm for Faculty Appreciation Night. WATCH
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