Pride Fall to Park on Senior Day

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Cory Reeves scored 26 points as the Park University Pirates defeated the Clarke Pride 76-67 on Saturday afternoon in the Kehl Center.  

After Clarke trailed by eight with less than four minutes left in the game, baskets and free throws by Jordan Lake and Keith Johnson cut Park's lead to 65-62 with 2:18 left. Park's Quez Williamson scored six of the Pirate's next 10 points to secure the road victory.

Lake finished with 21 points and five assists, while Johnson added in 15 points and four rebounds.

Williamson scored 20 points and Ernest Myles III had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds for Park, which has now won six of its last seven games. Jacob Fierst had 11 points and seven rebounds for Clarke (11-13, 6-9 Heart).

Park (13-7, 8-6) scored the game's first six points before Johnson went on a personal 9-0 scoring run to give the Pride its first lead of the game. A free throw by Fierst put Clarke up 10-8 before Reeves tied things up on a jump shot with 13:04 to play.

Anthony Eddy put the Pride back on top with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, but Reeves scored eight-straight points to put the Pirates back in front, where they would remain the rest of the way.

The Pirates went into halftime with a 37-25 lead, all thanks to an efficient half shooting the ball. Park connected on 15-of-28 field goal attempts (53.6%), including six-of-12 (50%) from behind the arc. Clarke made 34.5% (10-29) of its shots in the first 20 minutes but struggled behind the three-point line to the tune of hitting 15.4% (2-13) of its attempts.

The Pride improved in the second half by connecting on 45.5% (15-33) of its field goal attempts but was only able to convert on two three-pointers (2-11/18.2%). Meanwhile, Park picked up right where they left off by shooting 52% (13-25) from the field, while also connecting on 13 of its 17 free throw attempts (76.5%).

Before the game tipped off, Clarke recognized its four seniors in Lake, Johnson, Gabe Shields, and Xavier Johnson. The four combined to score 42 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.

Up next, the Pride will play host to Peru State on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Kehl Center.