SURPRISE, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team (5-6, 0-2) lost to the Ottawa University Arizona Spirit (5-5, 1-3) by a score of 67-53, Thursday night at Faith Arena in Surprise, Ariz.

After starting a four-game road trip with a pair of wins in California last week, the Buccaneers dropped their second game in the month of December. Park-Gilbert falls to 0-2 in Great Southwest Athletic Conference play.

The Bucs outscored the Spirit 25-23 in a defensive struggle of a first half that saw Park and OUAZ shoot 27.3% and 23.1% respectively.

In the second half the Spirit scored 44 points, nearly doubling their scoring output from the second half. Both teams saw their shooting numbers improve in the final 20 minutes of play as the Bucs shot 40% to OUAZ's 53.9%.

Guard Toate Sika recorded his second double-double of the season, leading the Bucs in scoring with 19 points while pulling down 11 boards. Guard Mahlik Lindsey shot four of eight from the field with 10 points.

Guards Caleb Ivy and Kenyon Williams made their season debuts Thursday night. Ivy, a graduate student from Chicago, Ill., played 15 minutes and scored five points in his return from an Achilles injury that sidelined him all of last year. Williams, the transfer from Southeast Community College, logged eight points and three rebounds.

The Buccaneers return to the court this Saturday at 3 p.m. MST, when they hit the road to face the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles (6-5, 0-2) at the Eagle Gym in Prescott, Ariz. Both teams will be seeking their first win in GSAC play.