GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport fell to cross town opponent Aquinas College in the WHAC Semifinals 77-79. The Panthers came back from a ten-point halftime deficit to tie the game late in the second half, but were un-able to take the lead. Aquinas was 18/23 from the free throw line during the second half.

THE BASICS
Final Score: #8 Davenport-77 | Aquinas-79
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Records: Davenport 24-8 | Aquinas 19-13
 
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-36 | Aquinas-46
Second Half: DU-41 | Aquinas-33
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Like most conference tournament games both teams traded buckets to start, with the score tied at 10-10 with 15:14 remaining in the half. Aquinas went on a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to create a lead they would hold for the rest of the half. Davenport chipped away at the lead late after a beautiful and one finish by Dawid Czerniawski to cut the lead to two points with 5:40 remaining. The Saints finished the last five minutes of the half on a 15-7 run and took a ten-point lead heading into half. The bench did the majority of the scoring for DU as Robbie Bramhill and Czerniawski combined for 17 of the Panthers 36 points.
 
Aquinas maintained their lead for a good chunk of the half. The saints led 63-55 with 10:51 remaining after hitting a pair of free throws. Davenport rode the momentum of the crowd and made a come back to tie the game at 66 points after a fast break lay-up by Javon Haines. Aquinas made four free throws over the next minute to take a four-point lead with 5:28 to play. The Saints went 7/10 from the free throw line over the final five minutes of play. Davenport had a chance to tie the game late as they had the ball, down by three points with 16 seconds remaining. A DU player was fouled and the Panthers were un-able to get a shot off as they headed to the free throw line with five seconds left on the clock. Davenport missed the free throw and Aquinas grabbed the rebound.
 
Nick Gamble led the Panthers in scoring with 24 points on 9/18 shooting from the field and added six assists. Czerniawski and Brambill combined for 26 points off the bench and chipped three rebounds a piece.
 
UP NEXT
Davenport will await the national tournament selection show on Wednesday to see if they make the tournament, and if so who they would play.

Story by: Devin Steiner

Photo credit: Tyler Triemstra