Jan. 16, 2010

Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. - Lorenzo Ecford scored 22 points and Nathan Cox added 15 as the #25 ranked Panthers defeated #18 Siena Heights in Adrian tonight 78-55. The game was a battle of two of the remaining three unbeaten teams in league play.

DU got things started in a hurry as David Thompson (Grandville, Mich.) hit a long three-pointer just 13 seconds into the game. After the Saints tied the game on the next two possessions, the two teams would trade baskets for the next six minutes seeing the score remain tied at 12-12.

Davenport got a huge boost on the defensive end at the 15:17 mark when they forced a turnover and James Nelson (New Haven, Mich.) converted a pair of free-throws to put the Panthers in the lead 14-12. It would be a sign of things to come for DU as their defense continued to be stellar as they would never allow the Saints to get within four for the remainder of the game after Lonnie Fairfax put the Panthers in front 16-12 with a mid-range floater.

DU then rattled off 10 of the next 14 points to take their largest lead of the first half (10) but the Saints rallied back to within eight at the break (31-39).

Knowing a road victory against the 16-3 Saints would go a long way in the WHAC race, DU came out with an added sense of urgency in the second half. After Siena scored to make it a five point game at 44-39, Davenport went on a 16-2 run that was highlighted by eight straight points from junior Lorenzo Ecford (Chicago, Ill.).

Siena Heights came back with a nice run of their own to get to within 11 (60-49) at the 9:30 mark, but it would be as close as they would get as Davenport was too tough defensively down the stretch.

The lead would continue to grow as the game went on as the Panthers turned to junior Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.) who scored 10 of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes.

Stellar defense has been a mainstay under Paddock over the last two years and it was what propelled DU to the big road victory on Saturday night. The Panthers held the Saints to a dismal 30.5% (18/59) from the floor and out-rebounded the home team 32-25. DU also forced 22 turnovers and came away with 13 steals.

Ecford led all scorers on the night with 22 points as he was joined in double-figures by Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.) with 15 and James Nelson with 11. Ecford also pulled down a team high 9 rebounds.

Davenport will now travel across town on Thursday, January 21 to take on Aquinas College at 7:30 PM. The game will be played at Grand Rapids CC's Ford Fieldhouse as the Saints are currently awaiting the completion of their fieldhouse renovations.

The DAN will start the broadcast at 7:15 with the pre-game show.