By: Garrett Campbell

CHANDLER, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team (8-11, 2-5) defeated the Life Pacific University Warriors (8-11, 2-5) by a score of 77-70, Saturday afternoon at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Ariz.

After starting 0-5 in Great Southwest Athletic Conference play, the Buccaneers picked up their second straight GSAC win as they move to 3-0 all-time against Life Pacific. Three Park-Gilbert players scored 15+ points en route to Park-Gilbert's second consecutive overall win.

The Bucs started strong in the first half, taking an 11-point lead into the locker room. Guards Issac Wood and Toate Sika scored 15 and 11 points in the first 20 minutes of play. Park-Gilbert shot an efficient 50% from beyond the arc, while holding the Warriors to 20% from the perimeter.

Life Pacific slowly chipped away at its deficit in the second half, bringing Park's lead to two points with three minutes remaining. The Bucs, due to being in the bonus, took plenty of trips to the free throw line, going 8-9 in that time frame. Guard Mahlik Lindsey led Park-Gilbert in second half scoring with 10 points, going a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.

Wood led the Bucs in scoring as he recorded a season-high 20 points off the bench. The junior from Reno, Nev., shot 70% from the field and knocked down four of six three-pointers. Lindsey finished with 17 points, six assists and four rebounds. Sika logged a total of 16 points as he was two rebounds shy of consecutive double-doubles. Forward Hangasu Noor and Tanner Pate scored nine and eight points respectively.

Overall, Park-Gilbert shot 40% from the field and 36% from downtown. Life Pacific finished with a 40% FG percentage and a 15% three-point percentage.

Park-Gilbert will hit the road for a pair of games in California next week. The Buccaneers will return to the court this Thursday, Jan. 22 at 8:30 p.m. MST as they face The Master's University Mustangs (13-6, 6-1) at the MacArthur Center in Santa Clarita, Calif.