by Matt Bos-Media Coordinator

Point Lookout, Mo.-Box Score | Bracket  Dominez Burnett scored a game-high 31 points in leading Davenport (Mich.) to a 77-62 first round win over Saint Xavier (Ill.) at the 2016 NAIA Division II National Championship held in Point Lookout, Mo.

Burnett matched this year’s championship high (Austin Fox of Saint Francis) with 31 points, making 13-of-21 field goal attempts, and pulled down seven rebounds. The senior is the all-time leading scorer in Michigan Collegiate basketball history, surpassing the record in the conference championship game. Burnett’s teammate, Wayne Bradford, netted all 20 of his points in the second half as the Panthers’ outscored Saint Xavier 41-26 in the final 20 minutes.

Davenport scored the first eight points of the game but a 12-0 Saint Xavier run put the Cougars up 27-18 with eight minutes left in the first half. Burnett scored the final three points of the opening half to cap a 9-3 Panthers run that knotted the game at 36 by the break.

A three-pointer by Kevin Rich put Davenport in front for good and ignited a 10-2 run at the start of the second half. Another Panthers’ run, this time a 12-4 surge, pushed the lead to double digits at the 10-minute mark and Davenport’s defense and rebounding prohibited any chances of a Saint Xavier comeback.

The Panthers shot 49% for the game and held a commanding 38-29 edge on the glass. Davenport, the top seed in the Liston Bracket, is now 30-4 on the year. They advance to the second round for the third consecutive year and will play either No. 4 Warner Pacific (Ore.) or No. 5 Nebraska Wesleyan on Friday.

Larry Motuzis led Saint Xavier with 21 points while Stanley Moore netted 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The Cougars shot 36% for the game and bow out with a 19-13 overall record.