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Grand Rapids, Mich. – Despite a poor shooting night, #6 Davenport was able to pull away from UM-Dearborn in the conference opener for each team. A late run in the first half gave the Panthers a 35-20 lead at the half that the Wolves wouldn't be able to come back from. Davenport posted an 87-60 to improve to 10-0 on the season with a 3:00pm matchup at #25 Indiana Tech on Saturday.
The Panthers missed their first twelve shots from the field to dig themselves an early 10-2 hole and James Humphrey (Fort Wayne, Ind.) finally broke the streak with a layup five minutes into the game.
Neither team could get things going in the first half as both teams failed to shoot above 26% - Davenport (25.6%) and UM-Dearborn (25.8%). The teams combined for eleven turnovers and twenty-one fouls in the opening twenty minutes.
After the Wolves hit a pair of free throws to go up 15-13 with 8:32 left in the first half, Davenport went on a 22-5 run to close the half. Nathan Cox had 11 of his team high 18 points and four of his five rebounds in the first half as the Panthers led by 15 at the break.
The Panthers wouldn't let up as the second half opened as senior Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.) converted the old fashioned three point play with a layup and free throw to extend Davenport's lead to 21 five minutes into the second half.
A few minutes later, JaVontae Ford (Grand Rapids, Mich.) stole the ball at half court and threw down a breakaway dunk to expand the lead to 27. Ford would finish with 12 points and a team high 3 steals on the night.
James Humphrey (Fort Wayne, Ind.) recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds to help Davenport to a win in their conference opener. It marks the third straight season DU has opened WHAC play with a win.
Lonnie Fairfax (Detroit, Mich.) set a DU Student Center record with 8 assists and the junior also grabbed seven rebounds and had two steals.
After shooting 25.6 percent in the first half, the Panthers shot 57.1 percent in the second while the defense held the Wolves to 33.3 percent shooting for the entire game. The Panthers improve to 24-5 under Paddock when holding opponents to under 35 percent shooting.
#2 Davenport (10-0) will travel to #25 Indiana Tech on Saturday for a 3:00 pm start time. Indiana Tech jumped into the ranking this week after defeating last year's NAIA National Champions and former #1 University of St. Francis. The Warriors won their conference opener on Wednesday when they won at Madonna 68-51.
The Panthers will have to improve their shooting against Indiana Tech who has held their opponents to an average of 54 points per game. You can listen to Gene Halbert on the DAN who will have the call live from Fort Wayne starting at 2:40pm.
