(La Verne, CA) Fueled by a 51-point second half, the Park University Gilbert men’s basketball team defeated NCAA Division III University of La Verne 84. The Buccaneers even their record at 6-6 and have already bested the five wins they had a year ago.
Unlike yesterday’s game where the Bucs found themselves down early, today they jumped out to a 10-3 lead straight away. The Bucs held the lead through the first 11 minutes of the game, but the Leopards took the lead on a three-pointer with 8:45 remaining in the half and would go on a 15-5 run and carry that to a nine-point halftime advantage.
The first half saw the Buccaneers shoot 48 percent from the floor but still trailed by nine points due in part to a 40 percent shooting effort from the free throw line (4-10). Center Evan Hoosier had 10 points in the first half to lead the charge.
The Bucs came out like a house of fire in the second half with a 14-4 run to retake the lead 47-46. At this point, the game became a back and forth contest with each team taking the lead over a five minute period of the half before the Bucs would take the lead at the 9:45 mark and hold it for nine minutes until La Verne hit a three-pointer with 45 second remaining to take a one-point lead.
LC Ballard would make two free throws to retake the lead by one, 79-78 and then ULV would do the same on two free throws. Then with 12 second remaining, Marquise Mckinzey would nail a three-point basket to give the Bucs an 82-80 lead. La Verne would miss its own three-point shot with six second left and Caleb Ivy would salt the game away with two free throws.
Ivy led the Bucs with a career-high 20 points, scoring 14 points in the second half. Hoosier just missed on his third double-double of the season with 16 points and nine rebounds. Ballard had 14 points and tied with Ivy for the team lead with four assists. Aidan Moreno led the squad with 11 rebounds. DJ Frye provided 10 points off the bench for the Bucs and Dhol Majak had three blocks.
It is a quick turnaround for the Bucs as they return home to face Dordt on Monday, December 18 at 4:30 p.m. The game will be played at Arizona Christian University as the Bucs normal facility is not available.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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