MESA, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team (8-16, 2-10) lost to the Arizona Christian University Firestorm (18-6, 9-3) by a score of 90-80, Thursday night at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.

The Buccaneers played the No. 7 program in the NAIA tough but ultimately fell in crunch time, as Arizona Christian completed the season sweep over Park-Gilbert.

The first half saw both teams trading blows in an offensive battle as ACU took a seven-point lead into the halftime break. The Bucs made 50% of their shots in that frame, but Arizona Christian caught fire from beyond the arc. The Firestorm made 11 of their 18 total three-pointers in the first half. Buccaneers guard Toate Sika had an efficient first half, scoring 19 points with a 73% field goal percentage.

Both teams' shooting numbers dipped in the second half of play. Bucs guard Tanner Pate kept Park-Gilbert in this contest with some key shots in the second half, as he posted eight points and knocked down a pair of key triples. A nine-point Firestorm lead with seven minutes remaining was cut to three points with four minutes left on the clock. However, a 9-2 run by the Firestorm in the final minutes put the game on ice.

Sika led the Buccaneers in scoring with 22 points while also posting nine rebounds and four steals on the defensive end. Pate played 35 minutes and finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Guards Issac Wood, Mahlik Lindsey, and Caleb Ivy combined for 28 points.

Overall, Park-Gilbert shot 42% from the field and 35% from three-point land. Arizona Christian finished with a 47% field goal percentage and a 55% three-point percentage.

The Buccaneers return to the court this Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. MST, when they hit the road for California to take on the La Sierra University Golden Eagles (7-16, 0-12) at the Alumni Pavillion in Riverside, Calif.