Feb. 10, 2010

Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Davenport rebounded from their first loss in over a month as they used a strong second half to down visiting Siena Heights 70-59. The win is the 21st overall this year which breaks the school record of 20 which was set last season under Head Coach Burt Paddock.

Siena Heights opened the scoring in the opening 10 seconds as they converted a four point play but DU would reel off the next 10 points with five different players chipping in. Davenport then held the Saints scoreless for the next 5:31.

After allowing the Saints to get within two at 10-8, DU got a deep-three pointer off the hands of James Nelson (New Haven, Mich.) and they extended it to a five point margin midway through the half.

Siena continued to battle and eventually tied the game on numerous occasions throughout the remainder of the first half and after a three-pointer of their own with just over two minutes to play had their first lead since the opening seconds.

Shots finally started to fall for DU down the stretch as they got jumpers from Mario Scott (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Gabe VanderJagt (Rockford, Mich.) and David Thompson (Grandville, Mich.) to take a 29-27 lead into the locker room.

DU made just 29% of their shots and was not much better from the free throw line as they connected on 10 of 15 for 66%.

Coming out of the half, DU reeled off 14 of the first 16 points to build their largest lead of the game at 14 points (43-29). The Panthers scored the first five before the Saints got on the board and then used a 9-0 run over the next 4:04 to take control with the run being culminated by Mario Scott lay-up after a steal from James Nelson.

Siena Heights would not go away after falling behind though and slowly started to chip away at the lead thanks to numerous free-throws over the next six minutes. SHU converted nine straight shots from the charity stripe to climb within seven at 50-43 but DU held together to stop the Saints run.

Clutch play by the guards helped DU take care of the basketball down the stretch as the Saints put on full court pressure. Lonnie Fairfax (Livonia, Mich.) scored six straight points to push DU back up by double-digits and they would eventually win by the final score of 70-59.

Davenport was very balanced on offense as all 10 players who played scored and nine of them recorded at least four points. Leading the way was Nathan Cox (Flushing, Mich.) who finished with 15 points and he was followed by James Nelson who chipped in 11.

DU limited the Saints to just 27% shooting while finishing 21/53 (39%) from the floor themselves.

DU improves to 21-6 on the year and maintains a tie for first place in the WHAC at 10-1 as they will host Aquinas College on Saturday, February 13 at 3:00 PM.