North Newton, KAN. - Patrick Burnett (SR/Erie, Pa) stunned the home team, and crowd, Saturday night as he scored the game-tying basket as the horn sounded, forcing overtime. The Panthers controlled the extra period to move to 2-0 in KCAC play with the 92-89 win.
Burnett tied the game at 76 with 52 seconds remaining. A three-point basket by Bethel's Dakota Foster put the Threshers up with 17 seconds remaining. With eight seconds to go Burnett dribbled around a highball screen and laid it in to make it 79-78 in favor of Bethel. The Panthers immediately fouled, sending Bethel's second leading scorer Poe Bryant to the line. Bryant made his first free throw, but missed the second. Burnett grabbed the rebound and raced down the floor with six seconds on the clock. Another drive down the lane and Burnett released the ball with under one second on the clock for the tie 80-80.
York controlled overtime riding the momentum and jumped out to a 92-86 lead after Nevell Lenard (SR/Los Angeles, Calif) made a three-point play the old fashioned way with 11 seconds remaining.
The Threshers weren't finished as Dakota Foster corraled an offensive rebound and was fouled on the put back. York's Burnett then was called for an offensive foul on the inbounds pass allowing the Threshers one last attempt to tie the game. Froster's last second three was off the mark and the Panthers escaped with the win.
York had four players in double figures led by Burnett's 23. Michael Tolbert (JR/Apopka, Fla) finished the game with 18 points, 12 in the first half. Roc Johnson (SR/Inglewood, Calif) connected on 4-of-8 from downtown to finish with 18. Andrew Stafford (SR/Dallas, Texas) finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Eric Lenear (SO/Bellevue, Neb) led the Panthers with seven assists.
The Panthers battled all night as they found themsevles down by 13 points late in the first half. York had to fight through adversity as they had a tough time getting into rhythym as the officials called 34 fouls on them. The Threshers attempted 40 free throws, only converting 15 of them.
Head coach Tree Burks said "I'm really proud of my guys. They battled hard all night and had some tough calls. Lance Ewell (JR/Brock, Texas) was only able to play a few minutes because of foul trouble. I felt bad for him. A few tough calls against him. Tolbert was big for us in the first half. Without him, we are down by a lot and a tougher chance to come back. Pat just did his thing. The guys rallied around him and they got it done."
York improves to 4-3 on the season and will have a week off before playing in an exhibition game on Saturday at NCAA II opponent Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo.
