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Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
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Men's Basketball Justice Steiner, Manager of Athletic Communications

Preview: Panthers Open New Year with Pair of Home Games

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - With the calendar flipping to 2025, the Davenport University men's basketball team opens the new year with a pair of home games against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech. The Panthers (4-6, 0-2 GLIAC) host the Wildcats on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and the Huskies on Saturday at 3 p.m.

DU is coming into the weekend on a two-game winning streak, led by senior guard Jovan Tucker. The Chicago, Ill native has scored 20-plus points in five of the last seven games for the Panthers. Tucker ranks fourth in the GLIAC in points per game (18.0) and second in field goal percentage (54.9).

Freshman forward Dylan Smith leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game (2.9). Smith is averaging 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on the season, scoring in double figures in four of the previous five games.

Scouting the Opponents
Northern Michigan (8-2, 2-0 GLIAC)
Series Record: NMU leads 13-3
Last Meeting: 3/2/24 - Northern Michigan defeated Davenport 83-64 in Marquette, Mich.
About the Wildcats 
  • Finished the 2023-24 campaign as the regular season GLIAC champions, tallying a 22-11 overall record and 14-4 record in conference action. Fell to Ferris State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament 81-65.
  • Lost their best player from a season ago to the transfer portal, Max Weisbrod. As a sophomore, the guard was selected as the GLIAC Player of the Year, averaging 17.2 points, 4.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. 
  • Only six players returned from last season, leading the way from that group is Dylan Kuehl, a GLAIC Preseason First Team GLIAC selection. Kuehl leads the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game.
  • Only two losses of the season have come against top-10 teams in the country, Minnesota State-Moorhead (No. 3) and Minnesota Duluth (No. 6). 
  • The Wildcats have won five consecutive games, including a 79-76 win over No. 25 Upper Iowa.
  • NMU has the top-scoring defense in the conference, only allowing 65.3 points per game, ranking 25th across the nation.
  • Picked to finish third in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Michigan Tech (7-3. 2-0 GLIAC)
Series Record: Tied 7-7
Last Meeting: 2/29/24 - Michigan Tech defeated Davenport 88-61 in Houghton, Mich. 
About the Huskies
  • Finished last season with an 11-17 overall record, going 8-10 in GLIAC play.
  • Marcus Tomashek leads the Huskies as one of the most prolific scorers in NCAA Division II, pouring in 24.1 points per game, ranking eighth in the country and first in the conference. The 6-6 guard was selected as the preseason GLIAC Player of the Year and has earned GLIAC Player of the Week honors twice (week 3 & 7).
  • MTU has won six consecutive games heading into the weekend, including a win over No. 3 Minnesota State-Moorhead (74-70) on Saturday, Nov. 23. 
  • As a team, Michigan Tech shoots nearly 52 percent from the floor, which leads the conference and ranks fifth in the country. 
  • Picked to finish sixth in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Live Coverage
Thursday, Jan. 2 vs. Northern Michigan (7:30 PM) - Live Video (FloSports) - Live Stats
Saturday, Jan. 4 vs. Michigan Tech (3 PM) - Live Video (FloSports) - Live Stats
 
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Players Mentioned

Jovan Tucker

#12 Jovan Tucker

G
6' 3"
Senior
Dylan Smith

#13 Dylan Smith

F
6' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jovan Tucker

#12 Jovan Tucker

6' 3"
Senior
G
Dylan Smith

#13 Dylan Smith

6' 8"
Freshman
F