SAN DIMAS, Calif. --- The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team (5-9, 2-0) survived another thriller Thursday night, defeating the Life Pacific University Warriors (7-3, 1-1) by a score of 78-76 at Mehl Court in San Dimas.
The Buccaneers snapped a five-game winning streak for the Warriors and moved to 2-0 in conference play with back-to-back overtime victories.
In a contest that stayed within single digits throughout the night, Life Pacific maintained their lead for most of the first half and all of the second.
With 10 seconds remaining in regulation, Buccaneers guard Marquis McKinzy sent the game into overtime with a game-tying three that capped off a 10-1 Park-Gilbert run in the final two minutes of the second half.
Overtime held the same level of competitiveness from both teams. Guard Kylan Shorts gave Park-Gilbert its first lead of the game with four minutes to go, and the Bucs never gave it back as guard Latrell Jones led the way with 7 points in OT.
Four Park-Gilbert players scored in double figures, seven players scored five or more points, and all but two players got a bucket in Thursday night's contest. Guard Tanner Pate led the team in scoring with 15 points, shooting 6-17 from the field and 3-8 from downtown.
Despite a 41.5% shooting night for the Buccaneers, their 79 points marked the 3rd most they've scored in a game this season.
The Buccaneers men's basketball team returns to the floor this Saturday, Jan. 11 at 3:00 p.m. MST, when they face Hope International University (13-2, 1-0) in Fullerton, Calif. The red hot Royals, winners of 10 straight, are coming off a 24-point victory over Benedictine University Mesa on Thursday night.
