Jan. 21, 2010

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Nathan Cox became the first Men's Basketball player in Davenport's 7-year history to reach 1000 career points as he helped the #19 Panthers to a 69-45 win over rival Aquinas College. DU is now 17-5 on the year and will host Indiana Tech on Saturday at 3:00 PM.

Coming off an impressive 23 point win over previously #18 ranked Siena Heights on Saturday, DU remained in their toughest part of their schedule with a trip across town to Aquinas. After a late run in the opening half opened a 14 point halftime lead, DU never looked back and won going away 69-45.

It was a game of scoring spurts for the first 11:40 on Thursday night inside GRCC's Ford Fieldhouse as DU built an early 17-9 lead after a 9-0 run that was finished by back-to-back buckets from Lorenzo Ecford (Chicago, Ill.) and Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.).

The Saints rallied with a 6-0 run of their own, but after a layup from David Thompson (Grandville, Mich.), DU finished the half by scoring 14 of the final 16 points to make a 2-point lead into a 35-21 advantage at the break.

With only 1:00 remaining on the clock in the opening half, Davenport got a bucket from junior Nathan Cox, which gave him 1000 career points. Cox is the first player in the 7-year history of the program to reach the milestone as he also holds the career mark for field goals.

The second half opened exactly the way the first ended as the Panthers scored the first 7 to open a 21 point lead before Aquinas ended the long drought at the 17:21 mark. Finishing the run was a steal and layup from sophomore James Nelson (New Haven, Mich.).

Cox then took over on the offensive end as he scored 6-straight points to help DU increase the lead to 25 (55-30) with just under 10 minutes to play. The Saints did get the lead back under 20 late in the game but the defense for DU was relentless all night.

Reigning Saints All-American John Lierman, who came into the game averaging 19.3 points per game, was held to a season low 4 points as the senior connected on only two shots from the field while being guarded by David Thompson and Gabe VanderJagt (Rockford, Mich.).

DU's team defense forced the Saints into 21 turnovers in which the Panthers turned into 17 points and the nation's top team in terms of steals finished with 11 on the night.

Lorenzo Ecford and Nathan Cox led the way with 16 points on the night and they were joined in double figures by James Nelson who chipped in with 10. Nelson also dished out a team high 4 assists on the night and Ecford pulled down a game high 7 rebounds.

#19 Davenport will be at home on Saturday, January 23 when they welcome Indiana Tech to the Student Center. Game time is set for 3:00 PM.