GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The men's basketball team fell in their home opener against Taylor University 86-81. The Panthers gave up 48 points in the opening half of play to a Trojan team that proved they are a shooting threat from all over the court. Davenport provided some offense of their own, however the Trojans shooting capabilities was too much to handle after 40 minutes of play.
 
Taylor University got things started early as they shot 7/8 to open the game and created a 16-4 lead over Davenport. The Trojans gained the lead after winning the tip and shooting in a three and never looked back, they would lead the entire game. The three-point barrage was never ending from the Trojans as they shot 10/14 from deep in the opening half. Davenport went on a couple runs throughout the half to cut the Trojans lead down to seven at half time.
 
At half Javon Haines and Kevin Rich were carrying the workload for Davenport. Haines had 14 points on 5/11 shooting from the field and Rich had 11 points on 5/7 shooting from the field. Haines also contributed four rebounds to lead DU.
 
Davenport chipped away at the lead early in the second half, cutting the lead all the way down to two points with 15:27 remaining in the game. The two teams traded buckets for a couple minutes and the Panthers cut the lead down to one point with ten minutes remaining in the game. The Trojans strung together a couple of threes and increased the lead back to nine points with 7:27 remaining.
 
The Panthers made a couple valiant efforts towards the end of the game to try and win, however time was not on their side. The clock would run out as the Trojans won 86-81. Haines led the Panthers in the scoring category by notching 28 points and making eight free throws on the night. Nick Gamble did a little bit of everything tonight as he had 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.
 
Davenport doesn't have too much time to dwell on this game as they head to Dearborn on Wednesday to take on UM-Dearborn in the Panthers first conference game of the year. Game will start at 7:30 p.m.