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POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – For being two of the top scoring teams in NAIA DII men's basketball, Davenport and Oregon Tech put on a defensive clinic in the second semifinal at the 2012 NAIA National Tournament.  The Panthers came up on the losing end of the 55-50 battle ending their season with a 32-5 record.

The first four and a half minutes of the contest remained scoreless for both teams.  Lonnie Fairfax was the first one to split the OIT defense with a layup giving DU their first lead of the game.  A throw down from James Humphrey and a Damacious White trey extended the DU lead to 7-2.

Davenport's stifling defense forced the Hustlin' Owls into several early turnovers and a timeout at the 13:35 mark.  OIT evened the score at seven on a 3-pointer and two free throws from Bobby Hunter.  Humphrey converted a 3-pointer to give the lead back to the Panthers, but from there Oregon Tech would then step up the defensive pressure forcing several DU miscues. 

OIT pulled out in front by as many as 7 points (22-15).  The Panthers would keep fighting, however, and pulled to within two at 20-22 and finished the half down just three (25-22).  Turnovers kept Davenport from putting much together offensively committing 14 turnovers in the first half.

Oregon Tech kicked off the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers.  Both defensives continued to battle in the second half, but the Hustlin' Owls were able to go up by as many as eight with 14:40 to go in the second half. 

The Panthers were not done fighting as they built a 12-1 run garnering their largest lead of the second half at 41-37.  James Nelson converted on back-to-back field goals to complete the run.  Neither team would pull away by more than three points for the next seven minutes of play until Oregon Tech converted in the paint followed by a quick layup off a stolen in bounds pass.

Davenport did not get many more chances in the closing minutes as the Hustlin' Owls dominated the offensive glass.  Fairfax would end his final game with 15 points to lead the Panthers.  JaVontae Ford was the only other player in double figures adding 14 points along with seven rebounds.

Post-Game Comments

Burt Paddock

Overall thoughts on the game - "That is kind of what happens when you get to the Final Four...there are some great teams and that is why their coach has 970 some wins...he made some great adjustments to squelch some of our runs and keep us from running when we got the momentum"

On the play of the senior class - "I owe them a lot...they make all the plays and I appreciate how they accepted me and did what we were trying to do.  They believed in us and they have been on board from the very beginning."

JaVontae Ford

On the back and forth semifinal game - "It means a lot to play in a game like that...they were a really good team...a really great team. They were very experienced in the game and they will do great in the national championship game."

Post-Game Notes

Davenport scored their fewest points in a game since a 47 point output in a loss against Indiana Tech on January 25...The senior class finishes with a four year record of 104-32...Davenport falls to 9-4 on the year when facing an opponent ranked in the Top 25 or receiving votes...The 32 wins is a school record (by 3) outdoing the 29 from last season