Box Score MARQUETTE, Mich. – Davenport headed into the matchup against Northern Michigan with plenty of momentum and the better conference record. However, neither of those mattered as the Wildcats of Northern Michigan defeated the Panthers by 14 points. Davenport struggled to shoot from the floor as a team in the game, which ended up being the biggest factor in the loss. The loss doesn't change the Panthers location in the GLIAC standings for the South Division, but puts a larger gap between them and Ashland in first place.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-63 | Northern Michigan-77
Location: Marquette, Mich.
 
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-18 | NMU-31
Second Half: DU-45 | NMU-46
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half of action was one-sided in favor of the Wildcats. The Panthers struggled to score the basketball, scoring only 18 points in the half. Davenport scored their 10^th point of the half with 3:41 to play in the half and were trailing by 19 points at that time in the game. The Panthers had a good final four minutes of the half, outscoring Northern Michigan 9-2 to end the half. During the stretch Dyllon Hudson-Emory accounted for six points and Avery Hudson for three. Davenport went into halftime trailing 31-18.
 
The Panthers opened the second half exactly how they needed, going on a major run to bring themselves back into the game. Davenport scored 12 unanswered points to open the second half and cut the deficit to a single point with 17:31 to in regulation. The Panthers continued to play solid basketball and garnered their first lead of the game with 13:25 in the game. Tafari Beckford finished an old fashioned three-point play to give Davenport a 39-38 advantage. The Wildcats turned the tide as they went on a 10-0 run that completely shifted momentum for the remainder of the game. After going up 48-39 with 11:14 to play the Wildcats held a two-possession lead throughout the rest of the contest. Davenport cut the lead down to five points a couple times, but Isaiah Johnson and Naba Echols had the answers offensively for Northern Michigan. The Wildcats held onto their lead for the upset win.
 
STAT LEADERS
Points: Hudson-Emory (25)
Rebounds: Janeau Joubert (7)
Assists: Hudson(4)
Steals: Joubert (3)
Blocks: Khadim Dieng (1)
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers have a short turnaround as they travel to Houghton to face Michigan Tech on Saturday. This will be the first time this season that Davenport is taking on the Huskies from Michigan Tech.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Hannah Paddock