Jan. 27, 2010

Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Lorenzo Ecford hit a layup with 4.7 seconds remaining to lift DU to a 61-60 win over #12 Cornerstone on Wednesday night. The win gives DU the outright WHAC lead as they improve to 19-5 overall and 8-0 in league play.

It was a slow go for the first few minutes as neither team could get on the board but CU finally broke the drought at the 17:51 mark and Davenport did not get on the board until over four minutes into the game when James Nelson hit a three-pointer.

David Thompson (Grandville, Mich.) then got hot for DU as the Panthers jumped out to an eight point lead (17-9) after back to back three pointers from the junior. The Golden Eagles would stay close and used a 12-4 run over the next 4:31 to tie the game at 21-21.

After a free-throw from Lonnie Fairfax (Livonia, Mich.) gave DU the lead back, CU got a bucket inside for their first lead since the 15:46 mark but it would not last long as on the next possession, the Panthers got a field goal from Gabe VanderJagt (Rockford, Mich.) and DU extended their lead to four (31-27) at the break.

Leading the way offensively for the Panthers was Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.) with nine points and David Thompson with eight. The two teams made exactly the same amount of shots from the field in the first half (10/24).

Starting the second half, DU's main weapon over the past two months, Lorenzo Ecford (Chicago, Ill.), picked up his third foul, but DU stayed strong as they collected back-to-back baskets from David Thompson and James Nelson to push the lead to eight.

CU then went on a 12-3 over that covered 5:43 of game clock to take a 41-40 lead, but the Panthers struck right back with nine of the next 14 points to take a 47-44 lead.

With just under 6:00 to play, a big defensive stop by Cornerstone that led to a transition basket for the Golden Eagles gave the host a 50-49 lead and a three-pointer on their next possession gave CU a 53-49 lead with 4:38 remaining.

Trailing again by three with just over 2:00 to play, DU was unable to get a stop on their defensive end as CU hit another long range shot but Lorenzo Ecford came right back with a 3-point play to bring the lead back to 58-55.

Two free-throws by James Nelson with 1:14 to play made the score 59-57 in favor of the host and after CU missed one of two free-throws themselves, the Panthers got to within one on a layup from Nathan Cox.

Cornerstone came down and missed a runner in the lane which gave DU one last shot and on an inbound play from underneath their own basket, Lorenzo Ecford converted a wide-open layup and a last gasp by CU was off the mark as DU escaped with the 61-60 win.

Leading the Panthers in scoring was junior Nathan Cox who finished with 15 points off the bench. James Nelson (New Haven, Mich.) and Lorenzo Ecford (all in the second half) chipped in with 12 each.

Cornerstone finished with the game shooting 43% from the field while the Panthers were 42% as the game could not have gotten any closer in terms of stats.

The win gives Davenport sole possession of the WHAC lead as they improve to 19-5 on the year and 8-0 in league action. The Panthers will now have Saturday off and will face UM Dearborn on the road next Wednesday.