Norfolk, Nebraska -- The Ellsworth men's basketball team sliced a double-digit deficit to three points with under six minutes to play but couldn't get any closer and Northeast (Neb.) CC held off the Panthers down the stretch to post a 76-68 victory in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday night.

With the start of the season pushed back over two months because of the pandemic, both teams endured some cold shooting in the first half.  The Panthers wound up making only 34 percent of their field goal attempts for the game and just 26 percent of their 3-point tries.  They also hurt themselves with 19 turnovers.  It was a two-point game inside of three minutes to go in the opening period before Northeast knocked down consecutive 3-pointers.  Ellsworth stayed with the hosts for the entire second half and did a good job defensively, forcing 20 turnovers.

Adam Jackson, an all-region selection for the Panthers a year ago, came off the bench to lead the ECC scoring with a game-high 32 points.  He drilled five three-pointers.  Junior Bodden added nine points and eight rebounds and Chase Smith tallied nine points on a trio of threes in a reserve role.

The Panthers are back on the road this weekend when they travel to play Indian Hills CC in a Saturday afternoon contest.