MESA, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team (2-2) defeated the Bushnell University Beacons (2-2) by a score of 76-70, Wednesday night at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.

Led by a 26-point outing by guard Tanner Pate, the Buccaneers got back to .500 with efficient shooting. Park-Gilbert shot 46.8% from the field and 47.1% from downtown. Defensively, the Bucs allowed the fewest points in a game this year since their 105-45 season-opening win against West Coast Baptist on Oct. 29.

Park-Gilbert started this contest in an 8-0 hole but rallied back in the first half and controlled a short lead for most of the second half. Their late-game three-point shooting played a part in that, as the Bucs shot 5-8 from downtown in the second half.

Pate played all but two minutes in this game, leading the Bucs in scoring with 26 points. The redshirt junior from Ahwatukee, Ariz., came alive in second half with 17 points off 75% shooting from both the field and from three.

Guard Mahlik Lindsey posted 12 points and three steals in his 29 minutes, shooting 5-6 from the free throw line. Guard Toate Sika had another solid night on the defensive end as he recorded eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and two steals.

The Park-Gilbert bench scored 26 points, led by an efficient 10-point outing from forward Amari Hill, who was 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the free-throw line with eight rebounds. Guard Issac Wood hit a pair of triples and totaled eight points. Guard Hangasu Noor and forward David Onyeogaziri rounded out the bench scoring with four points each, as Noor pulled down eight rebounds.

The Buccaneers return to the floor next Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. MST, when they host the Justice University Lions back home at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.