Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Although the Davenport men's basketball team is atop the WHAC with an unblemished league record, all bets were off when the Panthers visited the Aquinas Saints for a crosstown match up today.  Despite a slow start and poor shooting, DU came out with a 66-61 win and raised their conference record to 8-0.

Davenport struggled to get their offensive going in the contest and allowed Aquinas to go up 7-0.  Lonnie Fairfax was the first player for DU to score.  It would be his first of seven field goals in the game.  The Panthers would finally pull it to a tie at 10 with 11:10 to go in the first half.

The teams would continue to exchange baskets from there, but the Panthers were able to go up by four with just over two minutes to go.  Aquinas would not give up their lead that easily, though, and finished the half with a 5-0 run highlighted by a buzzer beating 3-pointer from Kevin Grant.  The Saints would take a 28-27 lead into the locker room.

Aquinas extended their run to 11 unanswered points after the intermission.  DU would continue to struggle offensively and trailed by as many as 10 at the 12 minute mark.  That's when the Panthers began to claw their way back.  DU would go on a 20-0 run, which was highlighted by a James Humphrey 3-pointer to tie the score and a reverse dunk by James Nelson to put the Panthers up 53-43.

DU tried to maintain their lead down the stretch, but struggled at the free throw line hitting 13 of 21 in the second half.  Aquinas kept things close coming within three points with just five seconds to go.  A missed Aquinas free throw, a defensive rebound and two free throws by JaVontae Ford sealed the victory to bring Davenport's overall record to 18-2 on the season.

Fairfax led all scorers with 23 points.  Damacious White and Nelson also reached double figures with 12 apiece.  Jon Prins was the leading rebounder with 10.

Post-Game Notes

Davenport has now won the last three contests in a row over the Saints…Fairfax's 23 points was his highest offensive output of the season…the Panthers will take a five game win streak into another crosstown rivalry against Cornerstone on Wednesday

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