(Mesa, AZ) In their last home match up of the season, the men’s basketball team set out to find their first win since Jan. 19 where they upset La Sierra on the road. Unfortunately for the Bucs, Monday afternoon did not bring such luck as they were overcome by the Warriors of Westcliff University 66-62.
The first half showed in Buccaneer fashion as they struggled to close the point gap. They were able to lead for a minute after Zach Lewkowski hit a jumper to boost the team over Westcliff 15-12 . It didn’t last long when the Warriors crawled back and resumed a three point lead of their own before closing out the half.
Westcliff’s Cap Uzan kept them in the game with his five three pointers and four rebounds. On the Buccaneers side, Lewkowski put up 10 points during the first 20 minutes, going 2-4 from the arc. LC Ballard and Zrebric Humphrey Jr. both tallied seven points apiece, with Humphrey Jr. well on his way to a double double after putting up six boards in the first half.
The second half looked largely the same, and was for the first eight minutes as the Warriors grew their lead to a game-high 14. Lead extensions 13 and 14 came from free throws by Gary Harris of the Warriors with 12:10 left to go in the game.
The Warrior offense then proceeded to go dead cold, while the Bucs began to take off; and take off they did. What followed the two free throws was a 12-0 run for the Bucs, followed quickly by the Buccaneers taking their first lead of the second half after a deep three from LC Ballard.
Unfortunately though, the bucket from Ballard was the last one that the Bucs put in, and a final layup from Westcliff’s Josh Harrison secured his team the win.
Ballard led the Buccaneers with 17 points on 6-13 shooting, while Lewkowski finished with 12 points in addition to three assists and two rebounds. The Bucs shot well as a team, finishing with 42% from the field.
Park wraps up their season with two road games against Westcliff University and University of Saint Katherine on Feb. 17 and 19 respectively.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Lainie Hallows
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