by (Lawrence, Kansas) – In a stunning display of persistence, the Haskell Indian Nations University men’s basketball team completed a massive comeback, erasing a 16-point deficit to defeat the Park University (MO) with a final score of 80-78. The Pirates, which held a dominant 55-39 lead with 16:44 remaining in the game, struggled with turnovers and ultimately ran out of steam against a relentless offensive push.
The Turnaround
Despite early scoring from Park’s Otavio Armani, who helped the initial lead briefly swell to 60-45 with 13:41 left, the momentum swung dramatically. Haskell chipped away at the deficit through a sustained run powered by their bench and clutch free-throw shooting. Preston Olney provided a spark, hitting three consecutive free throws to make it 60-49 at the 12:22 mark.
White and Boykins Ignite the Rally
The final 6:1$ of the game belonged entirely to Haskell’s backcourt of Jesse White and Nehemiah Boykins. White, who had an outstanding stretch, hit back-to-back three-pointers to first cut the lead to 68-57 and then 68-62 with 5:27 remaining. White continued his hot streak, tying the game at 76-75 with a jump shot with only 38 seconds left. Boykins was equally crucial, consistently attacking the basket for layups and free throws, including a key layup at 3:14 (72-71).
Clutch Finish
The game remained tight until the final buzzer. After Tyler Burrows committed a turnover with 3:41 left, Park struggled to score, allowing the Indians stay within striking distance. With the score tied at 78-78 following a layup by Amairé Perkins for Pari, Nehemiah Boykins was fouled as the clock expired. Boykins sank both resulting free throws, securing the hard-fought victory for Haskell, 80-78.
Haskell outscored Park 41-23 in this final portion of the game to seal the win.
