LAWRENCE, Kan — Friday, November 10, 2023, (13) Southwestern College (4-0) overcame a tough start, and defeated Park University at the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic, 89-72.
Park was able to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead on the Builders, and extended the lead to as much as eight, 3-11, and held on to it for about three minutes.
At the 14:23 mark, Justin DeMaria, in with the second unit, hits a three pointer, assisted by Wyatt Bell, 12-16, to spark the Builder offense.
DeMaria would do the majority of the scoring, eight points in total over the next five minutes with help from Andrew O'Brien who nailed a three pointer off the break.
The builder Defense would hold the Pirates to 10 points over a six minute period while the offense chipped into the Pirate lead.
With 8:40 left in the first half, Trey Abasolo would hit a three pointer to bring the Builders within one, 25-26. And no less than a possession later, O'Brien would find, guess who, DeMaria for another three and the lead, 28-26.
Conditioning was definitely a factor for the Pirates as Southwestern threw waves of fresh legs and kept increasing the pace of the game to regain the lead, daring the Pirates to keep pace.
With a 42-34 halftime lead, the Builders would hold on in the second half, 89-72.
DeMaria dropped in 14 first half points to keep the Builders in it, he finished with 18.
The Pirates held Cevin Clark to 12 first half points, but couldn't keep him under wraps in the second half. Clark would finish with an impressive 32-point display, including 4 three-pointers and an overall 12-of-30 shooting from the field.
O'Brien, Mr. dependable, finished with 9 rebounds and 9 assists, controlling the Builder offense.
Notably, the Southwestern bench outscored Park, 38-8, further underlining the Builder's depth and versatility. DeMaria, Mason Thiessen, and Wyatt Bell led the bench scoring, combining for 33 points.
Thiessen finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Bell had three points, four rebounds, and one assist.
The Builders outrebounded Park 44 to 26.
Southwestern is back in Lawrence, Sunday, November 12, at the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic, playing the Baptist Bible College at 2:30pm.
