Box Score Season Stats | Career Stats

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Western men struggled offensively falling 60-59 against the Park University Pirates in the first game of the Rockhurst University Harvesters Classic. MWSU shot just 39.0-percent (23-58) from the field and 23.8-percent (5-of-21) from long range. Cedric Clinkscales had another outstanding game finishing with a game high 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting. The Griffons fall to 2-2 with the loss.

MWSU jumped out to an early 7-2 lead after two Clinkscales jumpers and a long range shot from Dzenan Mrkaljevic. The Pirates took the lead at 9-7 after a three pointer by Nigal Van Oostrum with 14:12 left in the frame capping a 7-0 Pirate run.

The Griffons tied the score at 17 and 19 but could not regain the lead getting outscored by two the rest of the half. Venton Wilder hit the Pirates fifth long range shot of the half with 23 seconds to play giving Park the 32-28 halftime lead.

MWSU struggled shooting in the first half making just 11-of-33 attempts an just 2-of-11 from long range. Clinkscales led the way with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting. The Griffons had 20 rebounds with nine on the offensive end of the floor. Mrkaljevic had six points, five rebounds and three assists in the frame.

The Pirates made 13-of-26 field goals with with Wilder leading the charge with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting.

Despite struggling offensively the Griffons continued to battle in the second half. The Griffons used a 5-0 run midway through the second half tying the score at 42 after a Clinkscales layup with 12:44 to play. After the two teams traded baskets the Pirates took a 47-44 lead after a Wilder long range shot with 10:16 to play.

Once again the Griffons responded and with 8:13 to play Alex Tuluka-Mfumupembe drained his only three of the game tying the score at 49. The next four minutes was an offensive struggle as both teams scored four points and after a Clinkscales layup with 2:59 to play the score remained tied at 53.

MWSU had their chances down the stretch but the Pirates used a layup by Xavielle Brown and a three by Wilder claiming the 58-53 lead with 1:14 to play. Clinkscales converted an old fashioned three point play with 55 seconds to play cutting the Pirate lead to two but a turnover by the Pirates gave the Grifons hope.

Unfortunatly a missed three by Mrkaljevic and two free throws by Melvin Rowe gave Park a four point lead with four second to play. James Harris hit a three for MWSU making the final score 60-59. With the victory Park improves to 4-4 on the season.

Mrkaljevic finished with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists while Harris pitched in eight points off the bench.

The Pirates finished shooting 46.9-percent (23-49) from the field and 9-of-26 from long range. Wilder finished with 16 points and eight rebounds while Rowe had 10 points and eight boards.

The Griffons return to action on Saturday, November 24 at 4:00 pm when they take on host school Rockhurst University from Mason-Halpin Gym in Kansas City, Mo.