GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The halftime adjustments worked on Thursday night in the GLIAC opener as the Davenport University men's basketball team outscored Wayne State, 40-26, in the second half en route to a 71-59 victory inside the DU Student Center. The Panthers are now 4-1 in GLIAC openers since joining the league prior to the 2017 season and will look to capitalize on the victory this Saturday at home against Saginaw Valley State (3 p.m. start).

Jarrin Randall (pictured) led Davenport with 15 points, two shy of his career high, on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point land and 3-of-4 at the free throw line while Chris Rollins also scored in double-figures with 12. Marcedus Leech Jr. (9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal) and Jakub Dombek (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists, and 2 steals) each stuffed the stat sheet while Noble Cooper and Jairus Stevens each chipped in two steals.

Breaking down Davenport's defensive effort even more, Wayne State shot just 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the field, including only 29 percent (9-of-31) in the second half, and made just one of its nine three-point attempts (11 percent) for the game. The Warriors did out-rebound the Panthers 19-7 on the offensive glass and all 26 of their second-half points were scored in the paint. Wayne State turned the ball over 18 times, eight of which came on steals by Davenport.

The first half was a highly contested affair that saw a total of two ties and two lead changes with Wayne State leading by as many as nine, 29-20. Davenport then closed the half with an 11-4 that made the deficit just two points, 33-31, heading into halftime. Out of the break, Chaz Birchfield (3-of-3, 6 points) made back-to-back layups at the 14:46 mark that put the Panthers ahead by three, 41-38, and gave them the lead for good. From there, the home team would go on to lead by as many as 12, like in the final score, and the visitors could never get closer than two again (41-39 and 49-47).

Davenport improves to 4-2 overall with its second win in a row, 1-0 in league action, and will face Saginaw Valley State (5-2, 1-0 GLIAC) in a Saturday matinee. The Cardinals handed No. 13 Grand Valley State (5-1, 0-1 GLIAC) their first loss of the season, 68-65, in Allendale on Thursday.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler