SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Panthers opened the 2018 year on the road against arguably one of the best teams in the GLIAC. Lake Superior State came into the game a perfect 5-0 in conference play and previously defeated nationally ranked Ferris State University in their last GLIAC matchup of the 2017 year. Davenport clawed back at the end of the first half and trailed by seven points. The Lakers scored eight unanswered points to pull away from the Panthers early in the second half.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-66 | Lake Superior State University-87
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Records: Davenport 9-5 (3-3) | Lake Superior State 12-2 (6-0)
 
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-32 | LSSU-39
Second Half: DU-34 | LSSU-48
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams played their first game of the 2018 year tonight and were back and forth to open the game. John McCloud Jr. gave Davenport an 8-7 lead after a jumper with 16:06 left in the first half. The Lakers built up a 15-point lead with just over four minutes left in the half. Davenport ended the half on a 13-5 run to cut the deficit down to seven points heading into halftime.
 
Lake Superior State started the second half scoring 11 unanswered points to increase their lead to 18 points. Davenport fought back the entire second half, but were unable to string enough baskets together to get back into the game. The Lakers led by double digits almost the entire second half.
 
Delano Smith led the scoring charge for Davenport with 15 points on 7/9 shooting from the field. The other Panthers who scored in double digits is Nick Malonga with 11 points, Avery Hudson with 10 points and John McCloud Jr. with 10 points. McCloud Jr. also grabbed a team high six rebounds.

UP NEXT
Davenport has another tough game upcoming this Saturday. The Panthers host GLIAC foe Ferris State University. The Bulldogs are nationally ranked and hold a 15-1 overall record.

Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Tyler Triemstra