SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Panthers are on the west side of the country for a Thanksgiving Tournament in California. Davenport took on host Point Loma University and fell to the Sea Lions by seven points. Point Loma led for almost the whole game, while Davenport was never in the lead over the 40 minutes of play. The Panthers were down as many as 14 points in the second half, but fought back and tied the game with just under 10 minutes to play. Davenport couldn't get stops late in the game and fell to the Sea Lions.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-68 | Point Loma University-75
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Records: Davenport 4-2 | Point Loma 5-3
 
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-32 | PLU-38
Second Half: DU-36 | PLU-37
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Point Loma jumped out to an early lead over the Panthers, leading by six points after the first media timeout of the half. The Sea Lions increased their lead to nine points before Davenport went on a run. The Panthers went on a 13-4 run over four minutes and forty-one seconds to tie the game at 18-18. Braima Hai capped off the run with an unassisted three point make. The Sea Lions then went on a 12-point streak of their own and later on Davenport found themselves down 13 with 3:47 left in the half. Over the last 1:09 of the half Davenport scored six unanswered points to cut the lead down to six. During the time span Robbie Bramhill hit two free throws, Avery Hudson hit a jumper and added two free throws of his own.
 
The Panthers were held scoreless for the opening three minutes of the second half and found themselves down 14-points with 17:26 left in the game. Davenport clawed their way back and cut the lead down to seven points after a three by Hudson, assisted by John McCloud Jr. The Panthers tied the game up 53-53 after Delano Smith got a steal and took the ball coast to coast for the fast break layup. Davenport came within one basket of the Sea Lions over a large portion of the second half. Following a layup by Orlando Little Davenport was only down one point with 4:19 left in the game. The Sea Lions scored nine straight points and Davenport didn't get their next point until 43 seconds remained in the game.
 
Smith led all scorers with 15 points, he shot 7/9 from the field and had two rebounds. Nick Malonga was the other Panther in double digits with 12 points. Both McCloud Jr. and Wes Webbert grabbed six rebounds each.
 
UP NEXT
Davenport has a quick turnaround as they play Azusa Pacific today at 5 p.m. ET 92 p.m. PT) for their second game of the tournament. The Cougars beat Simon Fraser 66-56 during their first game of the tournament and are 4-3 overall this season.

Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Point Loma Athletic Communications