YORK - After a two and a half week break the Panthers were looking to get back in the win column to start the 2020 year off right. However, a tough and talented Friends University team stood in the way on Saturday afternoon as they took the game 80-71.

Three Panthers scored in double figures, but the Falcons had four with the same line, including a career-high from Jun Murdock as he scored a game-high 29 points.

Tyreece Berry (JR/Muskogee, Okla.) led the Panthers with 15 points. Michael Tolbert (SR/Apopka, Fla.) scored 14, while Eric Lenear (JR/Bellevue, Neb.) chipped in 11.

York jumped out quickly with a 7-0 lead, but the Falcons returned fire and tied the game at 11. Through the rest of the first half it was back-and-forth and the lead never grew more than four points and the game was tied six different times.

Friends took a 37-34 lead into the break. York started off the second half on an 11-4 run to take a 45-41 lead. However, that was the last lead the Panthers would have as the Falcons went on a 12-4 run of their own and never trailed the rest of the night. York battled to keep themselves in the ball game, but Murdock answered any threat the Panthers threw at the Falcons.

York's bench wasn't able to match the Falcons as they were outscored 46-16. York also struggled from the charity stripe as they shot just 60%. York also converted on just one three-point attempt in the second half.

With the loss the Panthers fall to 9-7 on the season and will look to break their three-game losing streak on the road Wednesday night. York faces Sterling College at 8:00 p.m. The Warriors come into the matchup with a 3-13 record.