GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Following its season-opening weekend in Kansas City, Mo., the Davenport University men's basketball team will be back in action this weekend in Kenosha, Wis. for the HARIBO Invitational. The Panthers (0-2, 0-0 GLIAC) will battle a pair of NSIC foes, Minnesota Crookston on Friday (Nov. 17) at 6 p.m. followed by No. 12 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday (Nov. 18) at 6 p.m.

Through two games, Marcedus Leech Jr. leads the Panthers, averaging 12 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Myles Belyeu is shooting 36.4 percent from the field, dropping 19 points per game while grabbing 2.5 boards per contest.

Scouting the Opponents
Minnesota Crookston (2-1, 0-0 NSIC)
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: NA
About the Golden Eagles

• Finished the 2022-23 with a 2-26 overall record, 1-21 in NSIC action. The Golden Eagles look much improved this year, already matching their number of wins from a season ago, defeating East Central (62-56) and Oklahoma Baptist (69-67).
• UMC returns its top two scorers from a season ago, Blaize Sagna and Xzavier Jones. Sagna averaged 15.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.6 percent from the floor. Jones finished the year with 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game, shooting 46.7 percent overall.
• Through three games in 2022-23, Sagna has averaged 21.3 points and five rebounds. The 6-3 guard is shooting over 50 percent from deep while averaging 34.3 minutes per game.
• Picked No. 15 in the NSIC preseason coaches poll.

Minnesota Duluth (1-1, 0-0 NSIC)
Series Record: First meeting
Last Meeting: NA
About the Bulldogs

• Ranked No. 12 in the nation in the preseason NABC coaches poll.
• In 2022-23, the Bulldogs finished with a 26-10 overall record, going 16-6 in NSIC action. UMD claimed the Central Region title, defeating Southern Nazarene 62-52. However, the Bulldogs run ended in the Elite Eight, falling 86-68 to Black Hills State.
• The Bulldogs return their top two performers from a season ago; Drew Blair and Charlie Katona. Blair was named First Team All-NSIC a season ago, while also garnering All-Region honors. He is the all-time points leader in program history and was named preseason Player of the Year in the NSIC. Katona was a Second Team All-NSIC selection last season.
• Opened the year with a win against Oklahoma Baptist (77-71) and a loss to East Central (62-58).
• Picked No. 1 in the NSIC preseason poll.

 

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