By Matt Bos, NAIA Media Coordinator

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – (Box Score) – Dominez Burnett knocked down three free throws with six seconds left to lift No. 8 Davenport (Mich.) past defending champion and top-seeded Indiana Wesleyan 79-75 in the final quarterfinal game played at the 2015 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship. This year’s event is being played at the Keeter Gymnasium.

Consecutive baskets by Burnett and John McCloud rallied Davenport and led to the 12th and final tie, 75-75 with 1:06 left, of a back-and-forth, highly competitive contest. Following a timeout, Indiana Wesleyan came up empty on its offensive end and after a Panthers timeout, Davenport held the ball until Burnett was fouled on a potential game-winning three-pointer. The junior converted all three from the foul line and Indiana Wesleyan missed on its game-tying three-pointer. A free throw by Davenport forward Kevin Rich following the rebound was the final point with one second left.

Both teams shot well over their season average from the field and from beyond the arc. Davenport shot 58% from the field and Indiana Wesleyan came in slightly better at 63%.
Davenport was paced by Nick Gamble with 19 points while Rich netted 18. Both players knocked down a trio of three-pointers. Bishop Robinson added 13 and Burnett and McCloud scored 10 as the Panthers placed five players in double figures.

Indiana Wesleyan held the largest lead for either team early in the first half (15-8) but a 7-0 Davenport run tied the game at 15. Another Wildcats spurt put the defending champions up 27-19 after a three-pointer by Zac Vandewater but Davenport cut the lead down to three, 41-38, at the break.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair with both teams holding short-lived leads. A three-point play by Lane Mahurin put Indiana Wesleyan in front 75-71 with 2:15 left, however, the Wildcats would not score again as Davenport scored the final eight points for the win.

Mahurin led Indiana Wesleyan with 18 points, followed by Bob Peters with 16. Vandewater chipped in 12, all from the three-point line. The Wildcats were trying to become the first team since Bethel (Ind.) to repeat as National Champions but bow out with an impressive 33-3 record.

Davenport will take its 30-6 record into Monday’s semifinal game against Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.). It will be the Panthers’ second semifinal, also extending past the weekend in 2012.