DES MOINES, IOWA – Grand View men's basketball faced off against Park University on Wednesday evening, wrapping up their regular-season series against the Pirates. The Vikings entered halftime trailing 40-28 but showed resilience in the second half, narrowing the deficit to just seven points. Despite their efforts, Grand View ultimately fell short, suffering a 72-62 defeat.

Grand View's offense in the first half was led by Jackson Green, who tallied 10 points while shooting 3-for-7 from beyond the arc and grabbing four rebounds. Jaxson Young added five points and distributed four assists in his 19 minutes of play. Patrick Worrell also contributed five points, knocking down a three-pointer in his efficient 14 minutes. Despite these efforts, the Vikings struggled to find consistency, shooting 37.9% from the field and just 30.8% from three-point range. On the boards, Grand View was out-rebounded 5-0 in offensive rebounds, limiting their second-chance opportunities and contributing to a 40-28 halftime deficit.

In the second half, Grand View fought valiantly to close the gap against Park University, narrowing the deficit to as little as seven points. Jaxson Young kept the Vikings close, contributing key baskets in the paint and finishing with several strong drives to the hoop. Connor Robertson and Jackson Green added momentum with crucial three-pointers, while Joe Knutson anchored the paint with timely rebounds and defensive stops. Despite their efforts, Park maintained control with efficient scoring, including a dominant performance from Gagi Gvalia. Grand View's late-game push wasn't enough, as they ultimately fell 72-62 in a hard-fought contest.

For the Vikings, Jaxson Young led the team with a standout performance, scoring 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting while adding two rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. Jackson Green followed with 13 points, connecting on four three-pointers and grabbing six rebounds. Joe Knutson was a force on the boards, tallying seven rebounds to go along with nine points and three blocks. James Ogrodnik also contributed significantly with six points and seven rebounds, tying Knutson for the team-high in rebounds. Despite their efforts, Grand View's shooting struggles, particularly from beyond the arc (7-of-26), hindered their comeback attempt.

UP NEXT 
Grand View hits the road to Fayette, MO, this weekend; they face the Eagles for a 4:00 p.m. tipoff, looking to bounce back.