After a disappointing loss in the season opener against Justice College the Park University Gilbert men's basketball team got on the winning side of the ledger tonight with a 66-63 win over Bellevue at the PHHacility in Phoenix, Ariz. The Bucs move to 1-1 on the season.

In the season opener, the Bucs squandered a healthy halftime lead and they were able to build a solid advantage again against the Bruins with a nine-point lead at the half.

But the second half bugaboo almost got them again as they were outscored 35-29 as the Bruins made a game of it. Park shot 41 percent from the floor in both halves but struggled from beyond the arc with only two three-pointers. They were solid from the line tonight making 10-13.

The difference might have been in the Bucs ability to take care of the basketball. Park only had 14 turnovers but was able to force 20 from the Bruins and turn those into 12 points.

Park also dominated the scoring in the paint with aa 26-12 advantage close to the bucket. The Buccaneers also took advantage of 12 rebounds on the offensive glass turning those into 13 second chance points.

 While Park dominated the paint, Bellevue kept itself in the game with its outside shooting. The Bruins made 11 trifectas on the evening and without those buckets the Bucs may win this game going away.

Park took the lead in the first half with 10 minutes remaining and never trailed again. The Bucs took a nine point lead into the half and built it up to as many as 14 with 15:42 remaining in the game, and still had a 10 point lead with under five minutes to go, but the Bruins slowly and methodically made a game of this at the end but the Bucs hung on to get their first win of the season.

Offensively, the Bucs were led by Dhol Majak and LC Ballard with 16 points each. Caleb Ivy had a solid game as well with 12 points and a team-leading nine boards. Majak led the team with two steals, including a coast-to-coast dunk off of one of his steals. DJ Frye came off the bench to score nine points and grab five boards including two offensive boards and put backs.

Park Gilbert now hits the road to California as they next week they will take on Stanton University on Thursday, November 9 and 2 p.m. Arizona time (1 p.m. pacific) and then West Coast Baptist on Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m. Arizona time (5 p.m. pacific).