GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Marcedus Leech Jr. scored a team-high 18 points as Davenport defeated Northwood, 68-57, on Monday night inside the DU Student Center for the 2021-22 home finale. Next up, Davenport will be at Northwood on Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. opening tip in a game rescheduled from Jan. 8.
Davenport improved to 11-13 overall, 7-10 in GLIAC play, evened up the all-time series with Northwood at 6-6, and snapped a three-game skid against the Timberwolves. On the other side, Northwood (4-19, 2-14 GLIAC) have lost five games in a row and 16 of its last 17.
Leech Jr. was one of four Panthers to score in double figures along with
Chris Rollins (14),
Luke Maranka (13) and
Jairus Stevens (10) while
Chaz Birchfield brought down a team-best eight rebounds. Three different players dished out three assists apiece including Maranka,
Jarrin Randall and
Samm Jones. Defensively, Maranka and
Jeff Carrier each notched a pair of blocks while Carrier, Rollins and Leech Jr. tallied two steals apiece.
The first half saw a pair of ties (2-2 and 13-13) and three lead changes before Davenport took over the lead for good at 15-13 with a Maranka dunk. That deuce came in the midst of a 12-2 run for the home team that put it ahead by seven, 22-15. Northwood was able to cut the deficit to three, 22-19, before the Panthers ended the half with 10 of the next 12 points to take their biggest advantage of the first half at 11, 32-21, into halftime.
Out of the break, the Timberwolves chipped away and were within three, 37-34, at the 16:28 mark. However, the Panthers didn't let it get any closer than that and their lead ballooned to as much as 18, 68-50, before the final 11-point margin.
Story by:
Cooper Weidenthaler
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