GILBERT, Ariz. The Park University men's and women's basketball teams dropped a double header to Embry-Riddle University tonight at "The Nest". The ladies (9-13) lost game one 79-55, the men (7-15) lost a tough game 2 game 77-72 despite a furious comeback that saw them tie the game after being down by 14 points at half time.
In the first game, the Buccaneers jumped out to a 6-0 lead against a Eagles team that entered the game with a 15-3 record and is undefeated in conference. But after scoring those first six points, they did not score again in the first quarter, trailing 13-6 after the first stanza.
Embry-Riddle found their rhythm in the second quarter, doubling their point output from the first, scoring 26 points and holding a 39-19 halftime lead. The Bucs held the Eagles to 30 percent shooting in the first half, but was outrebounded 27-18, including 12-2 on the offensive glass. That is where Embry-Riddle was able to make a difference on the scoreboard, in second chance opportunities.
Park Gilbert has been a second half team of late and they would have to be to come back in this contest as well. The Buccaneers managed to put 36 points on the board in the second half, spurred by 23 points from freshman Elise Young. Those 23 second half points gave Young 30 for the game. Young has scored 30 points or more in five of her last seven games. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers could not get enough stops on the defensive end the Eagles cruised to a 24-point victory.
The Buccaneer women now head to California for a weekend back-to-back with San Diego College and the University of Saint Katherine on Saturday and Sunday Feb. 1 and 2.
The second game saw Park Gilbert start slowly in the first half, struggling on the defensive end to slow down Embry-Riddle's movement and cutting to the basket. It also had difficulty finding the looks they wanted against the Eagle 2-3 defense. That bears out when looking at the numbers. The Bucs shot 30 percent from the floor in the first half but allowed the Eagles to shoot almost 60 percent overall and 63 percent from beyond the arc. This allowed the Eagles to hold a 14-point halftime advantage.
The second half started with the Bucs going on a 22-10 run to cut the lead to three. 55-52. From here the game became a see-saw battle which saw the Bucs tie the game at 62. From there the Eagles outscored the Buccaneers 15-10 to close out the game.
Guard Jake Ellis let the Bucs in scoring with 21 points and added 7 assists and 5 rebounds with only one turnover. Ethan Wallace added 15 points. Eric Patten posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards.
The Buccaneer men have a week off before traveling to Espanola, N.M., to face Northern New Mexico in a two games series on February 7 and 8.
