MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Panthers are up north for their last two regular season games and fell against Northern Michigan 77-73. Davenport scored 42 points in the first half and led by nine points after 20 minutes of play. The lead for the Panthers wouldn't last as the Wildcats took back the lead with 13 minutes to go in the game. Davenport missed a layup with 16 seconds when down by two points which would have put the Panthers right back in the game.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-73 | Northern Michigan-77
Location: Marquette, Mich.
Records: Davenport 12-15 (6-13) | Northern Michigan 15-11 (12-7)
 
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-42 | NMU-33
Second Half: DU-31 | NMU-44
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Wildcats scored the first bucket of the game Davenport strung together some good offensive possessions to take a multi possession lead. The Panthers led 15-6 only 3:07 into the game following a three ball by Delano Smith. Davenport continued to build their lead with a three by Robbie Bramhill to give them an 11-point lead. Northern Michigan cut the Panthers lead down to one point with six minutes to go in the half. Over the next six minutes of play DU went on a 10-2 run to give themselves a nine-point lead at half.
 
Northern Michigan didn't take long to bridge the gap in the second half, taking the lead 49-48 with 13:24 left in regulation. The Wildcats held a small lead for a good chunk of time in the second period, but Davenport never gave up. After a jump shot by Smith and two free throws by Braima Hai DU took a two-point lead with 4:22 to play. Davenport was in the driving seat late in the game, holding a three-point lead with 1:46 to play. The Wildcats completed an old-fashioned three-point play and the game was tied 73-73. On their next offensive possession Bramhill was whistled for a foul and that sent Will Carius to the line to shoot two free throws. He hit both and DU regained possession with 29 seconds left and trailing 75-73. Davenport got a great look at the basket as Webbert missed a reverse layup with 16 seconds that would have tied the game. The Panthers quickly fouled and Naba Echols went one of two from the free throw line to give Davenport another shot at tying the game. Janeau Joubert missed a three with roughly three seconds to go in the game. The Wildcats rebounded both missed shots to close the game.
 
Smith and Bramhill led the Panthers in scoring, combining for 36 points on 12/24 shooting from the field. The two shot 6/10 from beyond the arc and 6/7 from the free throw line. Three players recorded four rebounds, two players had three assists and Hai recorded two steals.
 
UP NEXT
Davenport plays their last game of the 2017-18 season in Houghton, Mich. on Saturday against Michigan Tech. The game will be at 1:00 p.m. and the women will play after the conclusion of the men.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Tyler Triemstra