Kenosha, Wis. - Despite their best efforts in the second half, the Wildcats men's basketball team would eventually fall to Parkside by a score of 76-68 on Saturday. 

Carson Smith led the Wildcats with 18 points on 7-16 (43.8%) shooting from the floor and 3-10 (30%) from three, along with hitting his only free throw. Brian Parzych was second with 17 points on 7-15 (46.7%) shooting from the floor and 2-4 (50%) from deep, making his only free throw as well. Diego Robinson grabbed a team-high nine (9) boards to go with his six (6) points. 

The Rangers had two players reach 20 points in Rasheed Bello and Colin O'Rourke. Bello was 7-16 (43.8%) from the floor and 2-4 (50%) from deep and hit all four of his free throws. O'Rourke was 6-10 (60%) from the field and 0-1 from three, making 8-9 of his free throws.

Max Bjorklund and Max Weisbbroad fouled out of the contest. They both posted four points. 

As a team, the Wildcats shot 27-56 (48.2%) from the field and 5-18 (27.8%) from deep, converting on 9-14 (64.3%) of their free throws. The Rangers shot 26-59 (44.1%) from the field and 5-16 (31.3%) from deep, converting on 19-24 (79.2%) of their free throws. 


How It Happened 
The game started with heavy back-and-forth action with the Rangers taking an early lead, as the 'Cats shot 3-7 from the field and 2-4 from deep to get to an 8-11 score in the first five minutes. Brian Parzych started the game hot, shooting 3-4 from the field and hitting his only three-point attempt for seven points.

The teams continued to exchange buckets, and neither team was able to pull away and extend a lead. With seven minutes left in the first half, the Wildcats shot 7-16 (43.7%)from the field and 2-4 (50%) from the three, and the Rangers shot 10-21 (47.6%) from the field and 3-8 (37.5%) from three.

It was an exciting first half that saw the Rangers hold a 36-32 lead heading into the locker room. The Rangers scored the first points of the game and did not trail at any point in the half, leading for 18 minutes and 53 seconds. 

Carson Smith led all players in the half with 10 points on 4-5 (80%) shooting from the field and 2-3 (66.7%) from beyond the arc. 

The Wildcats came out of the locker room rejuvenated and ready to go, outscoring Parkside 10-3 on 4-6 shooting, and took their first lead of the evening off a Brian Parzych three-ball. A Carson Smith layup extended the 'Cats run to 8-0 and forced Parkside to call a timeout. Diego Robinson made it a 10-0 run before Parkside scored their first bucket in over three and a half minutes.

The pace continued to pick up and the teams traded points, but the 'Cats maintained their newly-found lead with just over 10 minutes left in the half. Not long after, the 'Cats would find themselves in a scoring drought, going two minutes without a score with Parkside going 5-0 in that time. A Dylan Kuehl dunk got the 'Cats back on the score sheet.

With just over five minutes left, the officials went to review and it was determined that Max Bjorklund committed a flagrant foul. The Rangers made both free throws and on their possession scored, regaining the lead. Brian Parzych responded with a strong finish at the rim to tie it, the and-one gave the 'Cats the lead back.

With 2:31 left, Max Bjorklund fouled out of the game, and the Rangers would tie the game at 66 a piece with two free throws. Both teams found themselves in the double bonus. In a scary moment for the 'Cats, Brian Parzych went down with an injury but was able to return to the game a minute later. 

A pair of free throws from Colin O'Rourke got him to 20 points on the evening, and gave the Rangers a 71-68 lead with 40 seconds left. Max Weisbroad would foul trying to get a rebound, and his evening would be done as he fouled out. The Rangers would end on an 11-2 run, capped off by Rasheed Bello knocking down a pair from the charity stripe, and earning himself 20 on the evening. Despite a hot start to the second half, the 'Cats would eventually fall 76-68.


Postgame Notes

• Carson Smith led the Wildcats with 18 points on 7-16 (43.8%) shooting from the floor and 3-10 (30%) from three, along with hitting his only free throw. Brian Parzych was second with 17 points on 7-15 (46.7%) shooting from the floor and 2-4 (50%) from deep, making his only free throw as well. 
• The Rangers had two players reach 20 points in Rasheed Bello and Colin O'Rourke. Bello was 7-16 (43.8%) from the floor and 2-4 (50%) from deep and hit all four of his free throws. O'Rourke was 6-10 (60%) from the field and 0-1 from three, making 8-9 of his free throws.
• Max Bjorklund and Max Weisbbroad fouled out of the contest. They both posted four points. 
• As a team, the Wildcats shot 27-56 (48.2%) from the field and 5-18 (27.8%) from deep, converting on 9-14 (64.3%) of their free throws. The Rangers shot 26-59 (44.1%) from the field and 5-16 (31.3%) from deep, converting on 19-24 (79.2%) of their free throws.
• The Wildcats outrebounded the Rangers 35-33, had more turnovers with 13-8 and committed 22-16 personal fouls. 

Up Next
The Wildcats come home for the weekend and clash with GLIAC opponent Ferris State on Friday, December 9 at 5:30 PM.