SYLVANIA, Ohio – The target on the back of a top-ranked team can be very large. Each opponent is gunning for an upset and each game you need to bring your best. Lourdes does not appear dangerous on paper but for the second time this season they gave the Panthers fits. Davenport picked up a 74-67 road win on Saturday but needed a big first half where they led 41-27 before being outscored 40-33 in the second half by the Gray Wolves.

The Panthers led for a majority of the game and by as many as 16 points early in the second half. DU maintained a double-digit lead until 8:18 left in the game when Lourdes cut the deficit to 60-51 after a Julian Johnson bucket. Alonzo Hamilton connected on a deuce the next trip down for LU and after a pair of missed three-pointers by DU it was Zach Steinmetz nailing a triple to get the Gray Wolves within four and force a timeout.

Wayne Bradford made a pair of free throws with 4:40 left and Hamilton made a triple to make it a one-possession game at 62-59 on the next possession. The Panthers got a huge three-point play by Kevin Rich on the next possession and Hamilton again converted on the other end for a 65-61 score. Dominez Burnett and Rich both made baskets on the next two DU possessions for a 69-61 lead with 2:18 to play.

Lourdes came right back as DU missed free throws down the stretch. Hamilton carried his team on his back with a three-pointer making it 70-66 with 1:23 remaining. E.J. Blackwell split at the line to get it within 70-67 with 31 ticks left. Burnett split at the line after getting fouled and DU held on defense. Rich also split at the line for a 72-67 lead with 15 seconds to go. Blackwell missed a three-pointer and Rich rebounded it and went back to the line sealing the win with two makes.

Blackwell led all scorers with 22 points for Lourdes. Jason Jordan was big off the bench with 15 points including four triples. Burnett added 15 points and six rebounds in 38 minutes. Nick Gamble scored 12 points going 5-of-6 from the floor. Rich contributed 11 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes. Davenport shot 53.2 percent for the game while Lourdes shot 45.8 percent. DU held a 30-26 edge on the boards and a 25-6 advantage in bench points.