DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Davenport traveled down south to Florida this thanksgiving to compete in the Daytona Mitsubishi/Kia Shootout, hosted by Embry-Riddle. The Panthers took on Lees-McRae in the opening game of the Tournament and pummeled the Bobcats 107-81. During the game Davenport broke a program-record for assisted. The Panthers dished out 33 assists on their 43 made field goals in the game. In addition, Davenport shot an impressive 58.9% from the field during the game and a solid 50% from deep (14-28).
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-107 | Lees-McRae-81
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-51 | GLC-31
Second Half: DU-54 | GLC-46
HOW IT HAPPENED
Davenport scored the initial points of the game with a jumper by Khadim Dieng, assisted by Delano Smith. Over the opening three minutes and 28 seconds of play the Panthers built up a 13-5 lead, with a three-pointer by Smith capping off the run. The Bobcats fought back and cut the lead down to one point with 12:17 left in the first half. Avery Hudson put the team on his back and scored five straight points, all fast break buckets, to bring the lead back up to six points. Again, Lees-McRae fought their way back and cut the lead down to one point with 9:48 left in the half. The Panthers quickly increased their lead to nine points after scoring eight unanswered points, including an old-fashioned three-point play by Smith. With just over one minute to play in the half Davenport poured in seven points to take a 14-point lead at halftime. Hudson executed a two for one perfectly down the stretch. He hit a three from NBA range with 38 seconds and then hit a jumper in the paint as the clock expired on the very next Davenport possession.
The Panthers remained in the driver's seat during the entire second half of play. The lead was in double digits for all 20 minutes and increased to 20 and later 30 points late in the game. The Panthers led by 20 points for the first time in the game with 16:13 left on the clock in the second half. Davenport went on a nine-point run over a period of 65 seconds, the run included a layup by Dieng, dunk by Dyllon Hudson-Emory, layup by Janeau Joubert and a three in transition by Smith. The lead reached 30 points after Hudson scored a layup in transition with just over 10 to play in the game. Davenport continued to push the ball in transition, scoring 16 points in the second half alone on the fast break. In the second half Davenport had 10 different players score and eight different grab a rebound. The Panthers assisted on 17 of their 23 field goals in the half.
STAT LEADERS
Points: Smith (25)
Rebounds: Dieng (10)
Assists: Hudson (11)
Steals: Hudson (3)
Blocks: Hudson-Emory (4)
COACHES CORNER
"Our coaches have spent the last few weeks really stressing to our kids the importance of creating for each other off the bounce. We have a very good offensive team and when we share the ball the way we did tonight we can score in bunches. Very happy the kids are seeing their hard work in practice is starting to make the game easier.
I was impressed with our players' willingness to turn down good shots to create great shots for a teammate. If we can continue that trend we have a chance to play really good basketball as we enter GLIAC play." – Head Coach Burt Paddock.
UP NEXT
Davenport remains down in Florida for their second and final game of the Daytona Mitsubishi/Kia Tournament. The Panthers will play hosts Embry-Riddle in the championship game at 6:00 p.m.
Story by: Devin Steiner