UNIVESITY CENTER, Mich. – The Panthers were on the road for a GLIAC battle against Saginaw Valley State, who is towards the bottom of the GLIAC standings. The Cardinals put up a good fight, but Davenport was too much to handle. The win marks the Panthers ninth straight win and Davenport looks to move up the national rankings with the two wins over the week.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-75 | Saginaw Valley State-68
Location: University Center, Mich.


 
POINTS PER HALF
First Half: DU-33 | SVSU-29
Second Half: DU-42 | SVSU-39
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Davenport got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 10-3 lead just over six minutes into the contest. Tafari Beckford came off the bench hot, he finished a layup and then drilled a three to help DU take a seven-point lead. Saginaw Valley gathered themselves and went on a small run to tie the game 13-13. The Panthers earned their first double digit lead after Dyllon Hudson-Emory converted an old-fashioned three-point play. Hudson-Emory finished a layup on a fast break and then hit the ensuing free throw to give DU a 29-18 lead with 5:02 to play. The Cardinals cut the lead down the stretch of the half and Davenport led by four at halftime.
 
Saginaw Valley played well to start the second half, tying the game at 35 a piece. With 16:38 to play the game was still tied, this time at 39-39. Davenport started to pull away as they went on a 11-2 run to take a 50-41 lead. The run was capped off by a layup by Avery Hudson. The Cardinals came back and cut the lead down to three after a three by Myles Belyeu with 7:47 to play. Davenport needed an answer offensively and fount that with a floater by Janeau Joubert in the paint. On the next DU possession Hudson drilled a three and the lead was back up to seven. The lead grew to 11 after a layup by Hudson-Emory and then Chris Rollins with 4:50 to play in the game. Saginaw Valley gave DU a scare late as they made a three with 20 seconds on the clock to make it a three-point game. However, Hudson and Joubert each made two free throws to help close the game for DU.

STAT LEADERS
Points: Hudson-Emory (20)
Rebounds: Beckford (8)
Assists: Hudson/Joubert/Rollins (3)
Steals: Beckford (2)
Blocks: Beckford (1)
 
INTERESTING FACTS
-Davenport clinched a guaranteed GLIAC Tournament home game.
-The nine-game win streak is the longest of the season. 

COACHES CORNER
"Really happy for our kids. I think much of our success this season has been brought on by tremendous leadership. I know that sounds cliché – but, it's pretty darn awesome as a coach to walk to a huddle during a timeout and see a captain or just an upper class man addressing the team and imploring them to play harder!

Dyllon had another tremendous week for us. As the season gets longer he seems to get stronger, which is what you expect from your fifth year senior. He had a monster second half in a really important GLIAC game.
 
Over the last couple games, we've not shot the ball as well as we have earlier in the season. The really exciting this is that our team has realized we don't have to. Tonight we held our opponent to 33% shooting on their home court and that will win us a lot of games!" – Head Coach Burt Paddock
 
UP NEXT
Davenport hosts Michigan Tech on Thursday and Northern Michigan on Saturday for their final two regular-season games. The matchup with Northern Michigan on Saturday will be senior day for the Panthers!
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Andy Visockis