Mesa, Ariz. – A back and forth battle between the Buccaneers men's basketball and visiting Haskell Indian Nations University ended in a dramatic 68-66 victory for your Bucs.

The Bucs, coming off a big loss to Antelope Valley on Thursday night, made five of their first nine from the field to open up the game. However, Haskell was not quick to budge, as they held the game within seven points for the entirety of the first half, and had a lead of up to five points during the first half.

The Bucs led 35-29 at half thanks to a combined scoring effort from the entire team. Five players had at least five points at the break, led by LC Ballard and Ray Johnson II with seven. Vincent Cooke began a well-rounded performance as the squad headed into the locker room, filling the stat sheet with five points, five rebounds, and three assists. 

Haskell didn't let up despite trailing the majority of the first 20 minutes. Bansi King boosted his team with 15 of the team's 29 first half points, going 3-6 from behind the arc. King swung the momentum in the first 20 minutes with a string of back-to-back-to-back buckets, including two three-pointers, which at the time gave the Fighting Indians a four point lead.

Opening the second half, Park got the offense going immediately, and, just a minute into the half, increased their lead to a game-high 11. Haskell turned to the broad shoulders of their leading scorer, Tate' Bear, as he began to take over not just the offense, but the entire game. Bear, who entered the game averaging 20 points per game, had 13 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half alone. This scoring explosion was highlighted by a crucial layup by Bear with 2:56 left in the game that extended the visitor's lead to five.

Yet, the Bucs did not quit. Lewkowski found Ballard with under a minute to go for a catch-and-shoot three that tied the game at 66. Back-to-back offensive rebounds after Haskell misses gave the Fighting Indians the ball with just 16 seconds to go, looking for the last shot of the game to win it. 

It's never going to be that simple with this Buccaneers team though, is it?

A massive steal from Zach Lewkowski with just over five seconds to go in the game turned quickly into a Ballard scoring opportunity up the court after a brilliant pass from Lewkowski. Ballard's last second layup attempt resulted in Haskell's tenth personal foul of the game, sending the kid from OKC to the line with a chance to win the game. Ballard calmly sank the final two points after going 2-2 at the line with just .6 seconds remaining, and a poor inbound pass took away any chance of a last second heave from Haskell. 

Park walked away with an important win, boosting their overall record to 3-5, while Haskell fell to 4-9.

The Buccaneers are scheduled to host Cal Pac opponents La Sierra University on Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. at Bell Bank Park.

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