The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak and reached 10 wins for the first time in program history with a 74-72 win over Simpson University in Redding, Calif., this evening. The Bucs record now stands at 10-18 and 6-12 in Cal Pac play. The six conference wins is also a record high.
The Bucs jumped out to the lead in the first half and never trailed and was only tied once with in the half en route to a four point halftime advantage, The Bucs shot 46 percent from the floor and held the Red Hawks to 39 percent. LC Ballard scored almost half of the Bucs 34 points in the half, draining 15 points.
The Bucs held onto the lead for seven minutes into the second half before Simpson was able to tie and then take the lead. Park was able to retake the lead five minutes later and this exchange of the lead started a back and forth battle to the finish which saw 12 lead changes.
The Buccaneers held a two-point lead with just under a minute to go, but Simpson managed to tie the game with 13 seconds remaining. A three-point shot from LC Ballard with five seconds to go was off the mark and we were headed to overtime.
Park Gilbert was 1-1 in overtime this season, beating Benedictine Mesa and losing to La Sierra. The Bucs would never trail in overtime after two free throws from Aidan Moreno and a Simpson layup tied the game at 70-all, the Bucs would retake the lead on a tip-in by Evan Hoosier and then Marquis Mckinzey and DJ Frye would each make one of two free throws to give Park a two-point advantage.
Simpson had one more opportunity to tie or win the game but missed a three-point attempt as time expired and the Bucs walk away with its second win in as many years at Simpson.
Perusing the stat sheet, Simpson made more field goals (31-28) and three-point baskets (7-6) than the Bucs and shot a better percentage (43-40) as well, but the difference came at the free throw line where the Park Gilbert had 15 more opportunities and made nine more shots. Than Simpson.
Ballard led the Bucs with 22 points, Hoosier had his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 14 rebounds. DJ Frye poured in 14 points off the bench while Caleb Ivy added 11 points and Moreno nine rebounds.
The Bucs return home to close out the season with Cal Maritime and Pacific Union this Thursday and Saturday February 22 and 24.
