Box Score

Quick Box 1st 2nd OT Final AU 21 25 -- 46 DU 29 34 -- 63 Team Stats DU AU Rebounds 35 24 Assists 5 1 Steals 5 6 Blocks 3 0 FG % 48.9 31.3 3-Pt FG % 30.0 16.0 FT % 93.3 75.0 Leaders DU AU Points    28 - Burnett 15 - Overton Rebounds 8 - Burnett 4 - 2-tied Assists 3 - Davis 1 - Lowery Steals 2 - Burnett 2 - 2-tied Blocks 2 - Davis N/A

Site: Point Lookout, Mo. (Keeter Gymnasium)
Score: No. 9 Davenport 63, No. 24 Ashford 46
Records: DU (28-6), AU (23-10)
Next DU event: Friday, March 14 vs. TBD (NAIA Tournament second round) – 11:15 a.m. EST
 
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Dominez Burnett went for 28 points and eight rebounds and JaVontae Ford chipped in 19 but it was the defense of the No. 9 ranked Panthers that lifted them past No. 24 Ashford 63-46 in the first round of the 2014 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament. Davenport, now 28-6 overall, will move into the second round on Friday at 11:15 a.m. EST vs. the winner of No. 25 Concordia (Ore.) and No. 8 Bellevue (Neb.).

After shooting just 33.3% from the floor in the first half, Davenport increased its eight-point halftime lead into a 17-point margin within the first eight minutes of the second half thanks to 70.0% shooting to run away with a first round win over Ashford University (Iowa). Dominez Burnett led all scorers with 28 points while the sophomore also pulled down a game high eight rebounds.

After scoring the first basket of the game, Davenport fell behind 4-2 with consecutive mid-range jumpers from the Saints but that lead would be their only one of the game and after JaVontae Ford's 3-pointer at the 18:20 mark, DU slowly pulled away in the first half. Their lead grew to as many as 11 at 17-6 on Burnett's second triple of the half but the Saints refused to go quietly and after a Burnett layup with seven seconds to play, DU took a 29-21 lead into the break.

DU struggled from the field in the opening twenty minutes but that quickly became a thought of the past as they connected on their first three shots of the second, including a pair from senior DeArmond Davis and the lead went back into double-figures for the remainder of the game.

Davenport finished the second half a sizzling 70.0% (14-20) while not attempting a single 3-point shot. The Panthers continued their outstanding free-throw shooting as they finished 14-15 (93.3%). Ashford, who averaged 74.1 points per game entering the tourney, was held 28 points below that and was just 31.3% from the field including a dismal 16.0% from behind the arc.

The Panthers will await their second round opponent as they will meet the winner of the Bellevue (Neb.) and Concordia (Ore.) game on Friday morning at 11:15 a.m. EST.

Post-Game Notes
Davenport improves their NAIA Tournament record to 6-4 and are now 3-2 in the first round…The matchup with the Saints was the first in school history…Dominez Burnett's 28 points now gives him a combined 56 points in two games in the national tournament as he had 28 against York (Neb.) last season…The 16% from behind the arc is the second lowest DU has held an opponent this season
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-554-5045 | asagraves@davenport.edu
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