Winning on the road isn’t easy.

Behind a solid first half of play and a sluggish Goshen effort, the host Panthers were able to hang on to an 80-77 win, snapping a two-game Leafs’ winning streak and starting the team’s 56-day road odyssey — only a home game against the University of St. Francis breaks up the extended road swing on Dec. 5 — on the wrong foot.

“I didn’t think that we came out at the start of the game with much passion and energy tonight,” said Stan Daugherty, Goshen head coach. “This lack of passion was evident in our effort to contest shots and our defense. We also lacked sharpness offensively. We had several turnovers in the first half and just didn’t respond well to some pressure on the perimeter or to pressure getting open on the wings.”

With seven freshmen helping to comprise a 13-man roster, Goshen (3-2, 0-0) looked the part of newcomers playing in their first collegiate road contest early on, as Davenport hung close in the game’s opening moments. Daugherty’s team was able to capture a 13-10 lead just five and a half minutes into the game, but from there it was the Panthers that dictated tempo. Following six ties and 11 lead changes, Davenport captured its largest lead of the half immediately before the intermission, taking a 39-33 advantage into the locker room.

“Our defensive intensity was not good (in the first half) at all,” Daugherty said. “(Davenport guard Jon) Visser hit four three pointers in the first half and none of them were contested.”

A stern lecture from Daugherty at the break helped improve the team’s intensity in the second half, but forced turnovers and an inability to connect on big shots kept the team from ever regaining a lead. An early 14-point Panther lead in the second half was dwindled to one point on four occasions in the game’s waning moments, but Goshen could not capitalize on each of the ensuing possessions to take the lead.

A late driving layup attempt by freshman Lance Carroll was blocked, effectively finishing the Leafs’ chances for a comeback win.

“I did think that we had some stretches in the second half where we played well, but it was after we got down 14 points,” Daugherty said. “We cut the lead to one on just hustle and good defense. When we were down one we had some opportunities to take the lead with free throws or offensive put backs but we never got a shot to fall at that point. We shot the ball well overall, but our turnovers took away some shot opportunities that we needed to have in order to have a chance at winning this game.”

Freshman Errick McCollum led the scoring charge for Goshen, charting a career-high 27 points on a seven of 12 effort from the field and an 11 for 13 performance at the free throw line. Junior Brice Hartman scored 14 points on a seven of eight shooting performance before fouling out, while senior Matt Crawford scored 13. Freshman Nate West scored seven points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. McCollum also dished out a career-high five assists in the loss.

Goshen shot 50 percent from the floor for the game (27 of 54), but also committed a season-high 17 turnovers. The team also did not help itself from the free throw line, as Goshen connected on just 19 of a season-best 28 charity attempts (67.9 percent).

The team was not at full strength again, however, as senior forward Willie Frazier missed his third consecutive contest with an ankle sprain. Head assistant coach Cory Furman was also in absentia, performing his sports information director duties in Daytona Beach, Florida with the Leafs’ men’s soccer team at the NAIA National Championships.

“I hope that we, as a team, come to a better understanding of how to play on the road,” Daugherty said. “We have to come out more focused and then play with some passion. If we learn to give an effort on every play, I think we can be a good road team. I was pleased that we continued to battle and play hard when we got down, but we need to be more consistent so that we don't dig ourselves a big hole on the road.”

Goshen will have perhaps its toughest road test of the season upcoming, as the team will travel to eight-time NCAA Division II National Champion Kentucky Wesleyan College Friday night. That game time is set for a 7:30 p.m. (CST) tip-off.