HESSTON, Kan. — Hesston College men’s basketball put together one of its most efficient shooting performances of the season, but a strong second half from Sterling proved the difference as the Larks fell 90–85 on Saturday afternoon inside Yost Center.
Hesston shot 55 percent from the field and 40 percent from three, with four players scoring in double figures, yet Sterling countered with 30 made free throws and 47 second-half points to hold off the Larks’ late push. After trailing by as many as 10 in the opening half, Hesston battled back behind timely shooting from Brennon Dodge and a dominant second-half stretch from Trent Thompson.
The Larks opened the game with threes from Rob Gambill and Dante Smith to take an early 6–2 lead. Dodge then buried back-to-back threes and added a transition layup to help the Larks build their largest advantage at 14–8. Sterling responded with interior scoring and second-chance opportunities, eventually taking a 43–35 lead into halftime.
Hesston surged out of the break behind Thompson, who scored 18 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, scoring repeatedly at the rim and converting at the free-throw line. Dodge added 12 second-half points of his own, finishing with a team-high 23 on 9-for-15 shooting, including two threes and five assists. The Larks trimmed the deficit to a single possession multiple times, but Sterling’s ability to get to the line — going 30-for-40 on the afternoon — kept the Warriors in front.
Smith added 14 points, knocking down three threes before fouling out, while Brycten Harris provided seven points, three assists and two steals off the bench. Gambill finished with eight points and six rebounds, and Devin Lewis chipped in six with a pair of threes.
Despite outshooting Sterling from the field and from three, the Larks were outscored 30–11 at the free-throw line and 47–16 in bench points. Hesston also forced eight steals and recorded 16 assists on 32 made baskets, showing one of its most balanced offensive outings of the ye
