Nov. 15, 2005 The Dana College Men’s basketball team defeated York College Tuesday night, 86-85.  The game featured 18 lead changes and remained undecided until York came up short on a last-second shot.   The Panthers came into the game winless on the season, but gave the Vikings more than they bargained for during the evening.  The the two teams exchanged baskets for much of the first half, before Dana pulled away in the closing minutes.  Trent Mumma (SO, Bennington, Neb.) helped Dana secure the half time lead late in the half when he was fouled during a lay up.  He hit the charity shot to increase the Vikings' lead to eight points at the close of the half.

York tied the game up at 42 in the opening minutes of the second half.  The two sides then exchanged leads though out the period.  Dana looked to have the game locked up with two minutes left to go when Robbie Cox (SR, Hawley, Minn.) nailed a three-pointer and Mark Esser (SR, Woodbine, Iowa) hit a lay-up.
 
But the pesky Panthers were not done fighting.  York hit three three-point baskets in the closing 90 seconds to take a 85-84 lead with 17 seconds left to go in the game.  Esser tipped in a missed lay-up to give Dana the lead with seven seconds remaining.  York then called two consecutive time-outs to set up their last play.
 
Dana put pressure on the inbounds pass, but York cracked the Viking press.  Zach Smith, the Panther guard, got off a wide open shot that hit the front of the rim and fell safely to the floor as the buzzer sounded.
 
Jason Isaacson (SR, Council Bluffs, Iowa) once again led the Vikings in scoring with 29 points.  This was the first game of the season that Isaacson did not hit the 30-point mark.  He also chipped in five rebounds and six assists. Esser added a double-double on the evening by scoring 21 points and pulling down ten rebounds. Robbie Cox scored 13 points and Teddy Cox (JR, Hawley, Minn.) added an additional ten points.
 
The Vikings raise their record to 3-2 on the season and York falls to 0-6.  Dana College opens conference play on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. as the Defenders from Dordt College come to the Gardner-Hawks Center. Dordt was picked to place sixth in the preseason coaches’ poll and currently sit at 1-1 on the season.
 
For game statistics, visit: http://www.dana.edu/mens_basketball/stats/yordanm.htm