Jan. 9, 2010

Box Score | Photo Gallery

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - After trailing UM Dearborn by two at the break, DU outscored the Wolves 43-34 in the second half to win their 14th game of the year 78-71. Davenport is now 14-5 overall and 3-0 in league play with Madonna coming to the Student Center on Wednesday.

After cruising to their second straight win over Concordia to sweep the season series from the Cardinals, DU got back into the normal WHAC rotation today and downed the Wolves 78-71. The 3-0 start in league action marks the best start ever for the men's team since joining the WHAC in 2005-06.

It looked early as if DU would cruise to their second straight win overall as Mike Tilmon (Detroit, Mich.) hit a wide open jumper and the Panthers came right back with a long ball from David Thompson (Grandville, Mich.) to lead 5-0.

The Wolves battled strong though and quickly erased the lead as the two teams would go back and forth for the remainder of the opening half. Throughout the first 20 minutes, there would be eight ties and six lead changed as neither team led by more than six.

Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.), playing in just his second game back from an injury, hit an open jump shot from the baseline with 8:49 remaining to put the Panthers up 21-15, but Dearborn countered with a 7-0 to take a one point advantage.

UMD would eventually increase the lead to five points, but DU got a late free-throw from Mario Scott (Grand Rapids, Mich.) to pull within two at the break.

After Dearborn scored an early basket in the second half, DU got four straight points from Scott in a 25 second span to give the Panthers the lead for good. The Wolves got to within one (48-49) with 12:30 to play, but they would get no closer as DU pulled away and held on late for the win.

Mario Scott scored a career high 22 points on the day as he made 9 of his 11 shots from the field. Lonnie Fairfax (Livonia, Mich.) came off the bench and provided a spark with 7 points, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Mike Tilmon was the only other Panther to find double-digits as he finished with 10 points as all but one DU player that got into the game scored.

DU held UM Dearborn to just 39% (23/59) from the field as the Panthers finished shooting 48% (29/60). The Panthers also forced 20 turnovers on the day and finished with 7 blocked shots.

Davenport will return to the Student Center on January 13 when they host Madonna University. Game time is set for 7:30 and the game will be aired live on the DAN starting at 7:15 PM.

Post-Game Notes

Lorenzo Ecford set a new Student Center record as he recorded 4 blocked shots and the team set a record with 7 all-together...Mario Scott scored a career high 22 points and set the Student Center record for field goals made (9) and FG% (.818)...The win lifts DU to 18-1 all-time at the Student Center...When winning the turnover margin, DU is now 36-19 all-time