Scots Can’t Slow Down Park University Offense, 95-84

Courtesy Lyon College Athletics Department

BATESVILLE, Ark. – Despite a double-double from sophomore Kendall Leeks and hitting nearly 60 percent from the field in the first half, the Lyon College men’s basketball team couldn’t generate enough momentum to pull away from Park University Thursday night in James C. Becknell Gymnasium as the Pirates roared back in the final 20 minutes to outscore the Scots 49-37 for a 95-84 American Midwest Conference win.

The setback, Lyon’s fourth straight and 13th in its last 14 games, kept the Scots (3-11) winless in AMC play at 0-3. Park University improved to 8-6 and kept the Pirates within one game of first place Columbia (17-0, 3-0 AMC) and William Woods (7-9, 3-0 AMC) at 2-1. Lyon College will travel to Fulton, Mo. on Friday for an AMC matchup with WWU at 4 p.m. The game will be part of a women/men doubleheader.

In other conference action on Thursday, Columbia blew past Benedictine at Springfield (4-11, 1-2 AMC), 74-40, William Woods edged Hannibal-LaGrange (3-11, 0-2 AMC), 74-66, Missouri Baptist (6-9, 1-1 AMC) bounced Harris-Stowe (2-14, 1-2 AMC), 68-62, and Williams Baptist (10-5, 1-1 AMC) picked up a non-conference win over Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, 82-69.

The Scots appeared as if they were going to give the Pirates all they could handle on Thursday, hitting 59.3% (16-of-27) from the field and 66.7% (6-of-9) behind the three-point arc early on, but Lyon only managed a 47-46 lead at the break. That’s because the Pirates were connecting on 51.6% (16-of-31) from the field and 12-of-14 (85.7%) from the free throw line.

But the Pirates were red-hot in the second half, hitting 64.5% (20-of-31) from the field and finished the game with 58 points in the paint, as the PU bench outscored its counterpart from Lyon, 45-25, as Park outscored Lyon 49-37 in the final 20 minutes to gain the win.

Leeks had the hot hand for the Scots, hitting 8-of-15 from the field for 22 points, while pulling down 10 boards, blocking a shot and adding an assist. Marcus Humose canned 7-of-14 from the field and all five free throws for 21 points, while Slater Belew and Daniel Ritchie each chipping in 10 points.

Ben Worlow came off the bench to score six points, while Devonte Young, Stephon Martinez, Jordan McAllister and Jordan Layrock each managed three points.

The Pirates’ Xavielle Brown couldn’t be stopped. He hit 10-of-13 from the field, totaling a game-high 28 points, to go along with three rebounds. Melvin Rowe added 7-of-8 from the field for 19 points, in addition to seven rebounds. Venton Wilder scored 13 points.

Park University stayed within striking distance in the first half by hitting 51.6% (16-of-31) from the field and committing only six turnovers as the Pirates pulled to within 47-46 at the break. The Pirates committed only nine turnovers for the game.

The Pirates quickly bolted out to a 7-0 lead and later held a 26-19 advantage with 11:04 left in the half. But the Scots, who forced seven first-half ties, finally took the lead, 45-44, with 1:38 left in the period.

The game, which featured 10 ties, had its last one with 16:18 remaining as each team had 55 points. Park took a five-point lead on three different occasions, before finally bolting out to a 79-69 lead with 7:45 on the clock.

Lyon pulled to within eight, 84-76, with 6:14 remaining, but Park turned on the afterburners, stretching the advantage out to 95-80 with an 11-6 run and never looked back.

The Pirates hit 58.1% (36-of-62) from the field, despite making only 2-of-13 (15.4%) from three-point range. Lyon converted 49.2% (29-of-59) and 40.9% (9-of-22) from behind the arc. The Scots committed 13 turnovers.