The Tigers dropped a close game to NAIA #11 ranked Davenport University today 74-70. The game was close throughout with the two teams tied at 23 with 7:11 left in the first half. The Tigers took the lead with 5 minutes to go in the half on a 3-pointer by John Oostema. The Tigers increased the lead to 8 with 2 minutes to go in the half. The Panthers would cut the lead to 6 at the intermission, 43-37.

The Tigers opened up a 12 point lead at the 16:01 mark and seemed to have figured out what was working. By the 12:09 mark the Tigers had increased their lead to 14. The Tigers would then go 6 minutes without scoring and the Panthers took their first lead since the 6 minute mark of the first half. The Tigers took their last lead at the 2:34. The Panthers used the 16-0 run in the second half to seal the win.

“Sometimes that’s just the way it goes,” said Coach Gary Bailey. “They went to a zone in the second half and I thought we were in great shape, then we can’t buy a basket. We missed about 12 shots in a row. They stayed in the zone and we didn’t give them a reason to come out of it. It was a tough loss but this group has always taken what they learn and apply it to get better.” The team will have to do it quickly as the Tigers host NAIA #4, Cornerstone University, at the Aldrich Center on the campus of Grace Bible College on Tuesday night.

Dan Dame led Grace with 20 points. Allen Durham turned in a complete game with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists while seeing double and triple teams all night. Ryan Dame scored 9 points while pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out a team high 6 assists.

Grace shot a season low 42% from the floor. The Tigers were 7 of 9 from the arc in the first half and 1 for 14 in the second half for 34%.

Dan Dame was selected to the All Tournament Team for Grace.