YORK - An old Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference game between the Panthers and Bruins didn't disappoint the crowd Friday night in the Freeman Center. York College used a stout defense to outlast (24) Bellevue University 79-65. York led by as many as 20 midway through the second half of a defensive minded game.
Both teams struggled offensively as the defenses shined through in the game. The Bruins shot just 29 percent in the first half as the Panthers weren't much better at 32 percent. York was able to force 25 turnovers but the poor shooting kept the game close through the first half.
York jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead with Chris Smith (SO/Dallas, Texas) hitting the first three-point basket of the game. Cameron Coleman (SR/Allen, Texas) quickly made it 5-2 before his steal put Johnny Cooksey (SR/Shreveport, La) on the line for two free throws. Cooksey followed with a three from the top of the arc before the Panthers went cold. Bellevue stormed back on a 9-0 run of their own before the defenses controlled the final 16 minutes. After Nick Brown (FR/New Iberia, La) made a three-pointer York went scoreless for just under five minutes of play. However, the Bruins didn't fair much better as they couldn't find the bottom of the net for just over four minutes themselves. Bellevue's Blake Wilder put their deficit at four with just over a minute to play in the half before York's Tyler Roberts (JR/Las Vegas, Nev) made a trey that saw the Panthers lead at seven going into the half 34-27.
The second half started just like the first as Cameron Coleman came out with a three to put the lead back to 10. Another six points by the Panthers forced a Bruins timeout. York held a double digit lead until the five minute mark in the second half. The Panthers lead grew to 20 points before Bellevue was able to get within nine. With 4:10 remaining in the game Trevor Lenear (JR/Bellevue, Neb) put a dagger in the Bruins as he nailed a three-point shot from the top of the arc. Bellevue was never able to crack single digits again as York's defense only allowed six points over the final four minutes of play.
York's offense found some more life as they shot 48% from the field in the second half. Coleman, who only played five minutes the first half due to foul trouble, scored 16 second half points for a game high 19. Cooksey added 12 points and Keith Mack (JR/Chicago, Ill) put in 10. Chris Smith led the team with eight assists.
York was out-rebounded 47-34 and also saw a free throw differential of 28-17. York was just 8-for-29 from beyond the arc.
The 17th ranked Panthers will host Hastings College Saturday night at 5 pm. York improves to 2-0 on the season.
