STERLING, Kan. – The York University men's basketball team lost an 86-74 contest at Sterling Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers are now 4-11 overall, including 1-9 against KCAC foes.

Head coach Tree Burks' team was paced by Carl Thorpe Jr.'s near double-double effort of 19 points and nine boards. Both were team-high efforts. Chris Dixon posted 16 points and seven rebounds while Andrew Bennett totaled 15 points, four rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. DJ Leaks added 11 points and six boards.

Devin Carroll added five rebounds and four points while Rhino Hernandez led the team with three assists. Dave Dalge added four boards while Dylan Holston chipped in two.  

Tied at 2-2, Leaks converted an old-fashioned three-point play at the 18:55 mark. The teams traded baskets in the early going. With the score at 5-5, Bennett found Leaks for a lay-up.

Sterling countered with a three-point bucket before Torpe Jr., drained a jumper, giving the Panthers what would be their last lead of the contest at 9-8. A 12-0 spurt by Sterling propelled the home squad to a double-digit lead at 20-9.

Down 25-15, Bennett converted a lay-up, absorbed the contact and promptly made the free throw to make it 25-18. However, Sterling held a 53-29 lead at the break.

With the score at 58-34, Leaks started a run with a lay-up. Bennett tipped in a rebound before Thorpe Jr., and Dixon made lay-ups to pull within 16 at 58-40.

York trailed 79-57 with 6:35 to play. Bennett started a spurt with a thunderous dunk at the 6:21 mark. Thorpe Jr., tipped in a shot before finding Bennett for a lay-up. Two more charity tosses from Bennett sliced the deficit to 14 with 3:29 to play. However, that was as close as the team could get until the waning seconds.

For the game, York drained 24-of-56 from the floor. The squad got to the charity stripe 28 times and converted 22 attempts. The Panthers outrebounded the home team 43-23, including a 12-6 effort on the offensive glass.

York scored 40 points in the paint and had 13 second-chance points.

The Panthers return to action Wednesday, Jan. 15, when they host the University of Saint Mary at 7 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at Yorkpanthers.com.