KINGSPORT, Tenn. (Nov. 28, 2015) â€" After beginning the season 7-0 for the second straight year, the Milligan College men's basketball team finally fell, but it came at the hands of one of the nation's top three teams featuring the reigning NAIA Player of the Year. In the end, No. 3 Davenport University defeated the Buffaloes 78-44 Saturday afternoon at the MeadowView Marriott and the NAIA DII Showcase.

Davenport (9-0), used strong shooting, good rebounding and quick hands, and took advantage of seven Milligan (7-1) turnovers in the first 10 minutes of action to pull away early. The Panthers went ahead 14-2 after an 11-0 run, then expanded their lead to 19 at 23-4 after another run that blanked the Buffs, this one a 9-0 stretch.

Overall, the Panthers hit five 3-pointers, shot 75 percent (12-16) from the field and outrebounded the Buffs 11-1 in the first 10 minutes. Three of the five threes for Davenport came from Jason Jordan, who was 5-5 from the field and 3-3 from three in the opening half.

Another large Davenport run (12-0) without a bucket for Milligan made it 38-8 before the Buffs got within 23 thanks to a 9-2 run late in the first half. The Panthers also finished the half with eight steals.

In the final 10 minutes of the opening half, Milligan turned the rebounding battle completely around, bringing in 21 of 31 boards and being led by Julian Bailey with five and Tyler Nichols and Ike Ndulue with three each at the intermission.

The Buffs were led offensively by Alex Biggerstaff with 10 points on two 3-pointers, while James Songster contributed with a game-high five assists. On the boards, Bailey led both teams with a game-high 13 rebounds for his third straight double-digit rebound performance, but failed to reach double-digit scoring for the first time this season.

Additionally, Ndulue, a freshman, finished with his best game of his young college career so far, grabbing six boards and adding four points on 2-2 shooting from the field. Nichols, another freshman, also added four rebounds. The numbers for both Ndulue and Nichols were all career highs.

Davenport was paced by three players in double digit scoring: Jordan with 17, Wayne Bradford with 15 and reigning national player of the year Dominez Burnett with 11.

Milligan will continue the season Sunday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m., in the final game of the DII Showcase tournament against the University of Rio Grande in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Buffs are back home on Saturday, Dec. 5, against Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Montreat College.