HAMMOND, Ind. – In one of the most thrilling games of the season, the Parkside men's basketball team outlasted Purdue Northwest 76-73 in a three-overtime battle at the PNW Fitness & Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. The game was a testament to the endurance and grit of the Rangers, who fought back from several late-game deficits to secure their first road win in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Josiah Palmer was the star of the game, scoring a game-high 27 points and pulling down nine rebounds in an extraordinary 44 minutes of play. Palmer's clutch free-throw shooting (10-of-11) proved critical in the late stages of the contest.
- Jack Rose, another standout for Parkside, logged 50 minutes and contributed 16 points and four assists.
- Ethan Ivan added 15 points and four rebounds in an equally demanding 48 minutes.
- Matas Castillo and Nick Brown were also vital in Parkside's effort, combining for 14 points and 21 rebounds. Castillo's 11 rebounds and Brown's ten helped the Rangers win the battle on the glass 52-38.
- The game was the longest for Parkside since 1/31/2013 when Parkside defeated Saint Joseph's College 109-99 in Rensselaer, Indiana.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game, which saw 13 lead changes and 10 ties, was a true test of endurance, with both teams battling through fatigue in the extra periods. The game started with Purdue Northwest taking a 27-20 lead into the halftime break. However, Parkside stormed back in the second half.
The second half was characterized by gritty defense and timely free-throw shooting, as Parkside converted 12 of 14 attempts from the line. The Rangers held the Pride scoreless over the first 7:29 of the second half, while putting together a 14-0 run to take a 34-27 lead.
PNW clawed their way back in the last few minutes of the half, tying the game at 49 with 3:02 to play in regulation.
Overtime was an emotional rollercoaster, with both teams holding the lead at various points. In the first extra period, Palmer, who played an astounding 44 minutes, hit clutch free throws to keep the Rangers in it. Purdue Northwest's Collin Albert also had a chance to seal it late in the first OT, but his jump shot missed, sending the game into the second overtime.
In the second extra frame, the teams traded baskets, but neither could establish a commanding lead, Palmer again was critical offensively, hitting a free throw to tie the game at 66 with 15 second to go.
In the third overtime, Parkside found their rhythm, with Palmer leading the charge, scoring seven of his game-high 27 points over the last five minutes. His scoring burst in the final overtime period, included a 3-pointer and key free throws, was enough to give Parkside the edge.
The Rangers improve to 4-7 overall and 1-2 in GLIAC play with the win. Parkside will return to action on Monday evening for their GLIAC home opener against Roosevelt University. Opening tip is set for 7:30pm from De Simone Arena. Links to coverage including the live stream through FloCollege can be found at ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
