YORK, Neb. – The York University men's basketball team lost an 83-74 contest to Evangel Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers are now 4-8 overall, including 1-6 in KCAC play. The Valor stand at 5-6 overall, including 2-5 against conference foes.

Trailing 16-6, Rhino Hernandez found Andrew Bennett for a lay-up. With just under 15 minutes to go, Chris Dixon threw down a thunderous dunk. A three-ball from Herandez pulled the home team within three, 16-13. The Panthers made it a one-point game when Dave Dalge converted a three-point play.

Evangel stretched its advantage, but a three-point bucket by Dixon made it 34-28. Trailing 42-31 Carl Thore Jr. canned a jumper. DJ Leaks hit a lay-up with 1:16 to go. Bennett found Leaks for a shot from behind the three-point stripe, but the Valor held a 46-38 lead at the break.

Early in the second period, Dixon hit a jumper and Thorpe Jr., canned a three-ball, making it a 50-47 contest. Down 64-55, Dixon got things going with a bucket. Dalge hit a jumper and Dylan Holston made two charity tosses, trimming the deficit to just three, 64-61. However, that was as close as York could get the rest of the way.

The Panthers were guided by Thorpe Jr.'s 18-point, 15-rebound double-double. Dixon totaled 17 points and eight boards while Bennett registered 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Hernandez chipped in nine points and three assists.  

For the game, York hit 27-of-58, including six-of-20 from downtown. The team was nearly perfect, hitting 14-of-15 from the charity stripe. The Panthers held a 45-29 edge on the glass. York dished out 13 assists and scored 36 points in the paint.

The Panthers return to Saturday, Jan. 4, when they play at Southwestern at 1 p.m. Live stats and video at Yorkpanthers.com.