GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport capped off their 2018 year on the perfect note, defeating Goshen College in a non-conference matchup 109-52. The Panthers more than doubled the Maple Leafs scoring and held them to only 15 first half points. Newcomer Tafari Beckford got his first taste of Davenport basketball and he fit in perfectly. The sophomore grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and scored 12 points in his first outing with the Panthers. Davenport now holds a 6-5 advantage all-time over Goshen.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-109 | Goshen-52
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-68 | GC-15
Second Half: DU-41 | GC-37
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Davenport jumped on top of the Maple Leafs quickly in the first half. A couple of dunks, a layup, and a three later the Panthers held a 9-0 lead. Goshen responded with a three of their own to end the Panthers run. The three from Goshen came with 16:14 remaining in the half and then the Maple Leafs hit a serious drought. Davenport amped up their defense and held Goshen scoreless until 7:50 in the half, nearly nine whole minutes. In addition to the stifling defense, Davenport scored 30 unanswered points. The Panthers hit four threes during the stretch, including a pair by Robbie Bramhill. The draught for Goshen was finally ended with a three made with 7:50 to go. Davenport was quick to respond and rattled off another seven straight points, capped off by a thundering dunk in transition by Beckford, assisted by Dyllon Hudson-Emory. Davenport ended the half scoring 10 unanswered points, bringing their total to 68 points scored in the first half.
 
The Maple Leafs came out stronger in the second half, doubling up their first half total within six minutes of the second. Even though Goshen was scoring more in the second half the Panthers had an offensive answer of their own. Davenport led by 50 or more points for the entire half, never allowing Goshen to go on a significant run. Khadim Dieng and Hudson-Emory combined for 22 points in the half while going 9/11 from the field. Avery Hudson dished out five assist and Beckford grabbed four boards. The Panthers shot 64.7% from the field as a team over the 40-minute game, which is the second highest percentage in a single game in DU history.
 
STAT LEADERS
Points: Bramhill (22)
Rebounds: Beckford (7)
Assists: Hudson (11)
Steals: Hudson (4)
Blocks: Chris Rollins/Bramhill (1)

DOUBLE DOUBLE
Hudson: 13 points and 11 assists
 
UP NEXT
Davenport gets a significant break before their next contest. The Panthers will host Lake Superior State on Thursday, January 3.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Hannah Paddock