(Vallejo, CA) The Park University Gilbert men’s basketball team dropped a disappointing 84-77 decision against Cal Maritime yesterday afternoon. The loss drops the Bucs to 8-12 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
After a game where the Bucs set numerus shooting records, the first half of this game saw both teams struggle from the floor as neither team shot above 40 percent. Park shot 35 percent (14-40) and CSUM shot 37 percent (13-35). Both teams shot a number of three-pointers, with the Keelhaulers making 6 while the Bucs made 5. The first half difference came at the free throw line where CSUM had 12 attempts (making 8) while Park did not make an appearance at the charity stripe. This accounted for the seven-point halftime deficit the Bucs faced.
Aiden Moreno had the hot hand, going 5-5 from the floor including a three-point basket. Evan Hoosier (4-8 from the floor) added eight points and six rebounds. The rest of the team combined to shoot 5-27 (18 percent) in the half.
The second half saw the Bucs get back into the game with the help of Caleb Ivy and LC Ballard. The Keelhaulers increased the lead to as many as eight on a couple of occasions before the Bucs started to slowly cut into the lead. Finally, at the 13:49 mark an Ivy three-pointer gave the Bucs its first lead since the first half at 57-56. Then the game became a back and forth battle as the two teams exchanged the lead 3 times over the next five minutes.
CSUM then went on a 5-0 run to take a 69-64 lead. This would continue the back and forth nature of the game as it would come down the stretch. The Bucs would answer with its own 8-2 run to retake the lead 72-71. This would be the last lead the Bucs would have as Maritime would retake the lead with its own 4-0 run 75-72. The Keelhaulers then hit back-to-back three pointers against two Buc two pointers two increase the lead to five.
Park would struggle to find the range down the stretch missing going 0-7 over the last 5:30 of the game as they desperately attempted to get back into the game. They would come up empty and Cal Maritime would walk away with its third win of the season.
Both teams made 29 field goals and 10 three-pointers each. The final difference came at the free throw line. The Bucs had 12 attempts in the second half making nine. Maritime had 14 more attempts making another eight and the seven points difference at the stripe ended up being the difference in the game.
Ballard finished leading the team with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Moreno ended the game with a career-high 19 points. Ivy finished with 15.
The Bucs now try to get back on the winning track as they will travel to Prescott, Ariz., on Thursday, January 25 to take on Embry Riddle who they beat by 20 earlier in the season.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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