MESA, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert men's basketball team (6-9, 0-3) defeated the Trinity Christian College Trolls (5-7, 3-2) by a score of 73-62, Thursday afternoon at the BENU PEC in Mesa, Ariz.

The Buccaneers snapped a four-game losing streak and closed out the 2025 calendar year on a winning note.  

This game proved to be a complete team effort for Park-Gilbert, as five players found themselves in double-digit scoring figures. The only other time that happened this year was in the 105-45 season-opening win over West Coast Baptist on Oct. 29.

The first half saw Park-Gilbert jump out to a 10-point lead as four Buccaneers scored at least six points: Issac Wood (7), Tanner Pate (6), Toate Sika (6), and Mahlik Lindsey (6). The Bucs shot an impressive 50% from the field, despite only nailing two of 11 three-pointers.

In the second half, Park reached their largest lead of the day at 15 points with 15 minutes remaining. Trinity Christian made a run to cut the lead to five with six minutes remaining, but the Bucs staved off a comeback by going 8-8 from the free throw line in the game's final stretch. Sika scored 10 points in the second half along with eight rebounds, one steal, and one block.

Sika finished with team-highs in points and rebounds with 16 and 10, earning his third double-double of the season. Lindsey recorded thirteen points, five assists, and three steals. Guard Caleb Ivy scored a season-high 12 points in his fifth game and third start this year. Pate and Wood both scored 10 points.

Overall, the Buccaneers shot 48% from the field and 23% from downtown.

Park-Gilbert has the next two weeks off as they return to the court on Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. MST, when they take on the No. 22 ranked Benedictine University Mesa Redhawks (15-0, 3-0) at the BENU PEC.