Not only did the Davenport University men’s basketball team win its fifth game in a row and seventh out of the last eight on Saturday at Northwood, but it earned career win No. 300 for Head Coach Burt Paddock. The 12th-year head coach improved to 300-91 (76.7 winning percentage) and will look for victory No. 301 on Thursday when the Panthers host Northern Michigan inside the DU Student Center at 7:30 p.m.
With the win, Davenport improved to 14-5 overall, 6-3 in GLIAC play and 5-3 away from the Student Center. The Panthers are now tied with Parkside for fourth in the conference’s overall standings. Meanwhile, Northwood has lost two in a row and four of its last five to fall to 8-9 on the season including 3-6 in league action.
Robbie Bramhill followed up his 18-point performance against Saginaw Valley State on Thursday with 17 more on Saturday to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Also scoring in double-figures for Davenport were Chris Rollins with 16, Janeau Joubert with 13 and Evan Hines with 12. Rollins and Joubert paced the Panthers with three assists apiece. Defensively, Tafari Beckford and Alonzo Chatman each notched a block while Joubert and Bramhill each came away with two steals.
In the first half, Davenport led by as many as 11, 31-20, with under four minutes to play until halftime before Northwood closed the period with 11-straight points to tie the game for the first time, 31-31. In the second half, the game would see its first six lead changes with the final one coming at the 9:51 mark when the Panthers took a two-point lead, 47-45, thanks to a Bramhill triple. From there, the visitors would lead by as many as nine, 64-55, before the final seven-point margin.
As a team, Davenport shot over 50 percent (53.1) from the field for the first time in over a month (Dec. 10 vs. Great Lakes Christian) and just the fourth time this season. Saturday’s mark of 53.1 percent is the third best by the Panthers this season behind only that 61.3 vs. Great Lakes Christian and 55.9 vs. Purdue Northwest on Dec. 5. Because the Panthers were able to shoot the ball so well, they overcame 17 turnovers, their fourth most this season.
Burt Paddock Wins his 300th Game
