MESA, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team (5-15, 2-6) lost to the Hope International University Royals (19-3, 7-1) by a score of 46-70, Thursday night at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa. 

In a game that quickly turned into a defensive struggle, the Buccaneers held the No. 22 program in the NAIA to 28 first-half points.

In the second of two meetings this season between Great Southwest Athletic Conference foes, Park-Gilbert didn't trail by 15 or more points until the final 10 minutes of play. The Buccaneers extended their losing streak to six, while Hope International remains atop the GSAC as they earned their seventh conference win.

The Bucs shot a total of 36% from the field and 27.3% from downtown, while the Royals shot 55.3% and 33.3% respectively.

Guard Tanner Pate led Park-Gilbert in the scoring column with 11 points, playing all but five minutes Thursday night. Guards Kylan Shorts and Mahlik Lindsey were the other two players to record at least 30 minutes on the floor. Shorts put up 8 points and recorded 3 steals, and Lindsey provided five points and four rebounds off the bench.

The Buccaneers men's basketball team looks to get off the schneid against the Life Pacific University Warriors (11-5, 5-3) this Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2:00 p.m. MST on home turf at Arizona Athletic Grounds. Park-Gilbert will look to go 2-0 against LPU this season, after the first meeting led to a high-scoring overtime victory over the Warriors on Jan. 9 in San Dimas, Calif.