Hillsboro, KAN. - York College needed a win to guarantee the seventh seed in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament so they wouldn't have to make the trip to top-seeded, and No. 1 in the nation, Oklahoma Wesleyan in the opening round. That was no easy task as the Panthers had to play on the road against a talented Tabor College. Patrick Burnett (SR/Erie, Pa) did everything he could to help the Panthers pick up their 15th win of the season as he went 10-for-14 from the field scoring 28 points and 17 rebounds leading York to the 82-76 win. He also added six assists on the night.
After falling behind by eight points in the first two minutes of the game Burnett scored six straight points to tie the game 10-10. The next five minutes were back and forth before Nevell Lenard (SR/Los Angeles, Calif) put in a second chance bucket to tie the game at 16 apiece. Burnett gave York their first lead of the game two minutes later, before Michael Tolbert (JR/Apopka, Fla) hit a long range three for the five-point lead. York extended their lead up to ten points before Tabor stormed back in the final minute of the first half to regain the lead. Aaron Munday-Rashid (JR/Melbourne, Australia) put the Panthers on top eight seconds before the break 40-39.
The second half was back and forth as York could never put the Bluejays away on their home court. Tabor tied the game three times and took a one-point lead twice. But it was the Panthers who were able to get a little breathing room opening the game up to a seven-point margin with just over seven minutes remaining on a layup by Lance Ewell (JR/Brock, Texas).
Tabor would cut the game to one possession a few different times, including 78-76 with just under a minute to play. However, it was Patrick Burnett who sealed the game as he hit a baseline fadeaway jumper as the shot clock went off with just 17 seconds remaining in the game. Down two possessions the Bluejays were forced to foul and Burnett hit two free throws with four seconds remaining as the Panthers picked up the six point win.
Michael Tolbert added 14 points for York, followed by ten points by both Roc Johnson (SR/Inglewood, Calif) and Lance Ewell.
York dominated the inside all night as they outscored the Bluejays 42-28 in the paint and also outrebounded Tabor 43-25.
The Panthers move to 15-15 on the season and will travel to Southwestern College on Wednesday for the quarterfinal matchup in the KCAC tournament. The Moundbuilders are currently ranked sixth in the nation.
