Pirates’ strong closing kick spoils Wildcats’ lead, sends C-SC into postseason with back-to-back losses

PARKVILLE, Mo. — Park University scored the final 10 points of the game to upend the Culver-Stockton College men’s basketball team 77-72 in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at the Breckon Sports Center.

The Wildcats end the regular season with a 14-14 overall record and a 12-12 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference after dropping their final two games.

C-SC is the sixth seed for the Heart Tournament and will play at third-seeded Graceland in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Yellowjackets defeated the Wildcats in both regular-season meetings, winning 83-70 in Canton, Mo., and 75-66 in Lamoni, Iowa.

Saturday, the Wildcats led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but the Pirates chipped away at the lead over the next 12 minutes and took a 65-64 lead on a basket with 4:43 to play.

An 8-2 run by the Wildcats over the next 2:09 culminated with a 3-pointer by Connor Davis with 2:34 remaining and 72-67 lead. That would be the last basket the Wildcats made.

C-SC missed three shots and turned the ball over twice in the final 2:34. Park took advantage, scoring two of its final three baskets off those wo turnovers to take a 73-72 lead with 35 seconds left.

Davis missed a drive to the basket on C-SC’s ensuing possession, and Park’s AJ Hudson was fouled with 19 seconds left. Hudson made both free throws to extend the lead to 75-72.

After C-SC called timeout, the Wildcats looked for the game-tying trey. However, Tai Walters-Whitaker’s shot was off the mark with seven seconds left and the Wildcats were forced to foul. DeAndre Hudson made two free throws with two seconds left to seal the victory for the Pirates.

Seth Larson registered his third straight double-double to lead the Wildcats, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Davis added 16 points, while Walters-Whitaker and Robert Fry II garnered 11 and 10 points, respectively. Walters-Whitaker dished out a season-high seven assists.

Saturday’s loss was only the third this season when the Wildcats led at the intermission. C-SC was 11-3 overall when leading at the break.