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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport overcame a 5-point halftime deficit tonight to defeat Calvin College 88-79 in the first ever matchup between the two GR-area schools. Nathan Cox led the Panthers with 21 points off the bench as DU improves to 5-0 on the year. Davenport will host the Panther Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
Four Panthers scored in double figures with senior Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.) leading the way with a game high 21 points. Cox also finished the game with three rebounds, four assists and two steals while James Nelson (New Haven, Mich.) posted 20 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
Davenport (5-0 overall) got off to a flying start as they used an early 11-4 run to force Calvin into their second timeout of the game just 6:21 into the half. The Knights, playing their first game of the year, recovered quickly and scored 14 of the next 21 points to tie the score at 18-18.
Calvin hit a three-pointer, one of five in the opening half, on their next possession for their first lead and they continued to hit open looks to build as many as an 11 point lead with 3:25 to play. DU however hung tough and continued to chip away at the lead and after a layup from James Humphrey (Fort Wayne, Ind.) with 51 seconds to play, the Panthers went into the locker room trailing by just five, 37-32.
Calvin used a blazing 52% shooting from the floor five-point cushion as the Panthers struggled to just 38% while missing numerous chances under the basket.
The Knights then started the second half with a forced turnover and easy transition bucket to push the lead back to seven but Davenport rallied to tie the game at 45-45 after a steal and layup from Gabe VanderJagt (Rockford, Mich.). Calvin refused to give up the lead and despite DU gaining a 51-50 lead on a bucket from Darryl Nobles (Detroit, Mich.), the Knights pulled ahead by as many as seven (63-56) with 9:01 to play.
Senior Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.) and juniors James Humphrey (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and James Nelson (New Haven, Mich.) then combined to keep DU in the game as they posted all 12 Davenport's points in a 12-6 run for the Panthers to bring the margin to just one (68-69) with 5:41 to play. On the very next possession, freshman Zach Yeagy (Alexandria, Ind.) stole the ball at half court and went to the basket for a layup in which he was fouled and converted the three-point play to put DU on top for good.
The freshman would come up with another big shot down the stretch as he hit a deep three pointer with less than five seconds on the shot clock to put the Panthers up 83-75 with only 1:08 to play and the victory was secured with solid defense down the stretch.
The Panthers finished the game shooting 49% with a strong second half performance (60.6%). Calvin on the other hand continued to shoot well throughout the game finishing 29/56 (51.8%) from the floor. The Knights held a 38-35 edge on the glass but DU posted 15 offensive rebounds compared to just nine from the visitors.
Davenport will now host the 2010-11 Panther Invitational and will open the tournament on Friday against Calumet College of St. Joseph at 6:00pm. Huntington vs. IU-East will follow with a tip time approximately at 8:00pm. Live stats and audio will be available for all four games over the weekend.
