Box Score

Quick Box 1st 2nd OT Final DU 38 38 -- 76 BU 41 41 -- 82 Team Stats DU BU Rebounds 29 38 Assists 22 13 Steals 5 9 Blocks 11 5 FG % 49.1 40.4 3-Pt FG % 39.1 47.4 FT % 68.4 79.5 Leaders DU BU Points    25 - Burnett 15 - Strong Rebounds 6 - 2-tied 8 - Dotson Assists 5 - Davis 3 - Young Steals 2 - Burnett 3 - Dotson Blocks 4 - Betcher 2 - Chonis

Site: Chicago, Ill. (Shannon Center)
Score: No. 14 Bellevue 82, No. 9 Davenport 76
Records: DU (10-3), BU (9-2)
Next DU event: Sunday, Dec. 22 – vs. Viterbo (Wis.) – 5 p.m.
 
CHICAGO, Ill. – In a battle between two of the Top-14 programs in the country, it was the No. 14 ranked Bellevue Bruins who came out on top on Saturday night 82-76 in the first round of the Midwest Tournament hosted by Saint Xavier (Ill.). The Bruins held a three-point halftime edge and used a huge advantage at the foul line to pull out the win. No. 9 Davenport falls for just the third time this year as they will bring a 10-3 record into Sunday's consolation game against Viterbo University (Wis.).

Dominez Burnett once again led the Panther offense as the sophomore finished with a game high 25 points and he was joined in double-figures by Mike Betcher and Kevin Rich with 14 each as well as JaVontae Ford who had 12. The Panthers proved better in almost every statistical category but a 31-12 edge from the foul line proved to be too much to overcome.

With five ranked teams entered in the Midwest Tournament, the road to the championship would be a tough one for any team and the opening game pitted two of the top three with Bellevue at No. 14 and DU at No. 9. The Bruins raced out to a quick 11-7lead but the Panthers caught their stride and used a 12-0 run to lead 19-11 less than six minutes into the contest. Both teams then battled back and forth and a late 3-pointer from BU proved to be the only difference as the Bruins went into the locker room up 41-38.

DU quickly erased that margin in the second half scoring the first five points and nine of the first 11 to take their largest lead of the second half but then it became a tail of lead changes as the two teams would change leads six more times for the remainder of the game.Unfortunately for Davenport, their last lead came with 4:34 to play when Dominez Burnett hit one of two free-throws and the Bruins took the lead for good on the ensuing possession on a deep three pointer as the shot clock expired.

DU did get to within two numerous times down the stretch but the free-throw shooting was too much to overcome for the Panthers. Bellevue ended up knocking down 31-39 from the charity stripe compared to only 13-19 from the Panthers.

DU shot 49.1% on the night while holding BU to just over 40%.
 
Post-Game Notes
Davenport set a school record for blocks in a single game with 11 as Mike Betcher had a career high four by himself…DU lost the battle on the boards for the sixth time this season but only the first in their last six games…DU and Bellevue were meeting for the first time in school history….The Panthers will meet another first-time foe on Sunday as they will face Viterbo (Wis.)
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-554-5045 | asagraves@davenport.edu
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