(Mesa, AZ) Another historic night went the way of the opposition as the Buccaneers fell to the Embry-Riddle Eagles by a final score of 86-79.
With just under six minutes to go in the game, the Buccaneers men’s basketball team held possession with a two-point lead. Coming out of an Embry-Riddle timeout, the offense stood face-to-face with a potentially game-changing chance to grow a lead and solidify their already impressive second half offensive performance. Colton McGinnis received a pass just below the left elbow, and pulled up to shoot.
He missed.
A poor rebounding attempt by the Eagles gave them a second chance for the Bucs. Shot clock ticking down, LC Ballard found Vincent Cooke beyond the arc. Again, though, another missed shot. Yet, Zrebric Humphrey Jr. came down with the rebound and gave the Bucs another chance to grow the slim lead. Humphrey Jr. got the ball in the corner, and dished to McGinnis for a nearly identical shot to the one he had missed just seconds prior.
But alas, history repeated, and McGinnis missed once again.
From there, it was all downhill for the Buccaneers. The Eagles tied it up, took back their lead, and extended it; all a part of a 16-5 run. This was the sinking blow for a Buccaneers ship riding high after turning the Eagles 11-point halftime lead into pixie dust.
The Buccaneers had solid offensive performances from both Zach Lewkowski and Ballard, as the two had 20 points apiece. Kylan Shorts made his presence felt with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists. McGinnis had a top level game for himself as well, finishing with a season-high eight points, and two rebounds in 13 minutes with a plus-11 plus/minus on the day.
Disciplinary troubles stifled the Bucs’ chances down the stretch, as well. The Buccaneers fouled the Eagles 26 times, their season high, which sent the Eagles to the line an astounding 48 times in the game. Davon Cobbs was the only Buccaneer that saw game action today that did not commit a foul.
The Eagles 40 free throws made, as well as their 48 free throws attempted, are both single-game highs for any Cal Pac team in any Cal Pac conference game in this season.
The Bucs men’s and women’s basketball teams see their last home regular season action this Monday, Feb. 13 against Westcliff University. Women’s tip-off is 12:00 p.m., men tip-off at 2:00 p.m.
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Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Lainie Hallows
