By: Justice Steiner, Assistant Manager of Athletic Communications
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport University men's basketball team returns home for its final week of action in the 2022-23 regular season. The Panthers (7-19, 3-13 GLIAC) will take on Ferris State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. followed by Senior Day against Lake Superior State on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the DU Student Center
Jordan Sterling has ramped up his production in the month of February. The guard is averaging 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.4 steals through the last five games for DU. Last time out, Sterling also set a career-high in rebounds in a game (8), steals (4), and tied a career-high in points (23), as the Panthers fell 95-90 to Saginaw Valley State in University Center Mich on Saturday.
Jaylen Hodges scored a career-high 20 points in last week's game against the Cardinals. Redshirt freshman Jaden Terrell tied career-highs in both rebounds (8) and minutes (30) in a narrow 68-80 loss to Wayne State last Thursday.
Scouting the Opponents:
Ferris State (21-6, 12-4 GLIAC)
Series Record: Davenport leads 4-3
Last Meeting: 12/4/22 - Ferris State defeated Davenport 103-54 in Big Rapids, Mich.
About the Bulldogs:
Ferris State is tied with Parkside for the top spot in the GLIAC standings. The Bulldogs split the season series with Parkside but currently hold the tiebreaker for the No. 1 overall seed.
FSU has won 20 or more games in eight seasons since 2015. The only season the Bulldogs didn't hit that mark was their 2020-21 campaign, finishing 9-11 in a condensed season due to COVID-19. Ferris State has won 10 of its last 11 games heading into the final week of play, with its only loss coming to Parkside on Feb. 2, 86-66, in Kenosha, Wis.
Solomon Oraegbu averages 17.1 points per game on the season, ranking fourth among all scorers in the GLIAC. The redshirt sophomore has won GLIAC Player of the Week two of the last four weeks and averages 19.7 ppg in conference play.
Sophomore forward Mykel Bingham leads the GLIAC in field goal percentage (57.2) and is fourth in rebounds per game (6.3).
Lake Superior State (11-13, 10-6 GLIAC)
Series Record: Lake Superior State leads 8-2
Last Meeting: 12/1/22 - Lake Superior State defeated Davenport 81-61 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
About the Lakers:
It is a battle between the Lakers for the No. 4 in the GLIAC standings, as Lake Superior State and Grand Valley State are battling to clinch home-court advantage in the opening round of the conference tournament. LSSU defeated GVSU in the first matchup earlier this season, and the two teams will square off once again on Thursday, Feb. 23, in what likely decides who lands home-court advantage in round one.
The frontcourt duo of Caden Ebeling and Kemon Bassett have led the way for the Lakers this season. Both seniors rank in the top 10 in points per game (8th and 9th) and top 15 in rebounds per game (6th and 14th) in the GLIAC. Bassett Earned GLIAC Player of the Week honors in week 13.
Lake Superior State gets to the charity stripe as well as anyone in all of Division II. The Lakers average 22.9 free throw attempts per game, marking the best in the GLIAC and 16th in the nation, while knocking down 16.2 of those attempts per game, again the best in the conference and 22nd in all of Division II.
Live Coverage:
Thursday, Feb. 23 vs Ferris State (7:30 PM) - Live Video (FloSports) - Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 25 vs Lake Superior State (3:00 PM) - Live Video (FloSports) - Live Stats
