Doane takes care of Panthers in midweek action

CRETE, Neb. - The York University men's basketball team dropped a 74-62 contest at Doane Wednesday evening.

The Panthers are now 1-1 on the season while Doane improves to 3-0.

Trailing 18-10 at the 12:10 mark, Chris Dixon took a pass from Rhino Hernandez and promptly buried a three-ball. The two connected again with 10:48 to play for another shot from distance. Carl Thorpe Jr. buried a pair of free throws at the 8:45 to go for a 20-18 margin.

Down 33-20 with just over four minutes remaining in the half, Hernandez hit Thorpe Jr. for a lay-up. Andrew Bennett's inside shot pulled the visitors within nine at 33-24. However, a late field goal by Doane made it 40-28 at the break.

With the score at 43-28, Ikechukwu Nawobi nailed a three-point bucket. A pair of lay-ups by Thorpe Jr. pulled the Panthers within eight at 43-35.

Trailing 48-37, Dixon connected on a lay-up with 15:03 to go. Andrew Bennett and Dixon hit lay-ups to pull within five, 48-43, at the 14:20 mark. Another lay-up by Thorpe Jr. made it a three-point game with just under 14:00 to play.

Doane extended the margin to eight, 53-45, before Bennett converted an old-fashioned three-point play. A Dixon three-ball made it a two-point game. Moments later, Thorpe Jr.'s jumper made the score 54-53 with 10:09 to go.

The home squad embarked on a 20-8 spurt over the next nine minutes, securing the win for Doane.

Head coach Tree Burks' team was paced by Dixon's 21-point performance. Thorpe Jr., tallied 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals. Bennett totaled a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.

For the game, York hit 24-of-53 (45.3 percent) from the floor. The Panthers corralled 39 rebounds compared to 20 by the home team. York dished out 14 assists and netted 32 points in the paint.

The Panthers return to action Saturday when they play at Hastings College at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at Yorkpanthers.com .

Assistant Sports Editor