MCC News
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 - [Men's Basketball]

GOSHEN, Ind. - Down six at the halftime break, the Goshen College men's basketball team came roaring back midway through the second period before holding on for a 77-66 upset of NAIA DII #19 Davenport University Monday night.

It was their fifth-straight game against a team that appeared in the national polls at the time of the contest with two more on the way this week.

After three-consecutive losses, the victory could not have come at a better time. And the Maple Leafs earned every bit of it against a talented and athletic Davenport squad.
 
"That is a very good team that we played tonight," head coach Gary Chupp said. "They are going to win a lot of games this year and can beat you in a lot of ways." 
  
The Panthers took charge of the game from the tip as they netted the game's first four points. The Leafs would respond with a 6-2 run, however, before the teams battled back and forth through four ties with the latest coming at 22-22 with 5:29 to play in the first half.

A very physical opening period turned back in Davenport's favor as they scored six-straight points in the matter of 40 seconds off an intentional foul and pair of field goals. They managed to hold their lead at six as they went into the intermission up 35-29.

"I was pleased with our energy in the first half," Chupp explained. "We didn't shoot the ball well, but were able to stay close, in part because of how Nate West attacked the offensive glass."

The Panthers out shot Goshen 48% to 30% in the first 20 minutes as high-pressured defenses on both sides caused 14 turnovers each. West had eight rebounds before the break, including four on the offensive end.

After the Leafs cut the Davenport lead to three in the opening minutes of the second half, the Panthers responded with a 6-0 run behind a Darryle Nobles 3-pointer to go up 43-34 with 14:39 to play.

Then, junior Daniel Butler II took over. The 66 forward scored six points in a 8-0 Goshen run that knotted the scored at 45-45 with just over 11 minutes to play.

"DB (Daniel Butler) had a real key stretch for us in the second half as he became much more aggressive getting to the basket," Chupp said. "He was able to bring us back into it."

Goshen would get its first lead (53-52) since midway through the first half at the 6:53 mark as Nate West Jr. hit a jumper. Davenport would quickly tie it on a free throw, but would never again lead the contest.

Down the stretch it was some hot shooting along with the ability to hit free throws that allowed the Maple Leafs to pull away. Goshen hit three-straight 3-pointers - two by freshman Casey Pratt - to give themselves a seven-point advantage with just over two minutes to play.

In desperation mode, the Panthers were forced to foul and senior Errick McCollum hit 6-of-6 from the line to close out the upset win. McCollum finished with 14 points and now sits just 23 points shy of breaking Goshen College's all-time career scoring mark of 2,277 points set by 2006 graduate Eric Walsh.

"Obviously, I feel really good about the win and I was pleased we were able to do it with how strong of defense they played against E (McCollum)," Chupp added. "He didn't have a great shooting night, but didn't force things either. It was great to have other guys step up and score."

Junior Simon Szablicki hit on 4-of-9 from the field for 14 points, while Butler finished with 13 and West ended the night with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Maple Leafs get very little time to celebrate as they host NAIA DI #14 Saint Xavier tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.