GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport men's basketball team starts another season at the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge hosted by William Jewell College this Friday and Saturday. The Panthers are looking for a fresh start and will face Rockhurst on Friday at 6:30 PM eastern followed by playing the host school Cardinals on Saturday at 5:00 PM eastern. This is the fifth straight season in which Davenport has been a part of the crossover against Rockhurst and William Jewell. Last year's edition was hosted by Davenport Nov. 8-9 at the DU Student Center. Rockhurst picked up a 64-54 win and William Jewell followed with a 55-45 victory. Davenport is looking for their first season-opening win since Nov. 12, 2021 in a 77-64 win at Rockhurst in Kansas City, Missouri.

Sophomore Dylan Smith received some preseason accolades as Second Team All-GLIAC after a freshman season in which he started in 19 games and played in 28 contests. He averaged 9.8 points and six rebounds per game, while shooting 50 percent from the floor. Among the other probable starters, the backcourt features Curtis Jackson and Ken Walker. Jackson is a transfer from Saginaw Valley State and Walker scored over 1,000 points in just two seasons at his previous stop of Earlham College. The frontcourt rounds out with Aidan Moon and Sangolay Njie. Moon started in 16 games last season at DU and improved down the stretch with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds against Wayne State on Feb. 22. Njie sat out at DU last season and adds size and athleticism inside after transferring from Roosevelt University.

Scouting the Opponents
Rockhurst
• The Hawks were picked fourth in the GLVC Preseason Poll with 141 points. The Hawks return nine players from last year's squad, including starting guard Jaylen Wesley, who led the team with a 15.3 scoring average.

• Rockhurst had a record of 17-12 overall and 11-9 in the GLVC under first-year head coach Kyle Blackbourn. The Hawks averaged 78.2 points per game and shot 43.9 percent from the floor, including 33.2 percent from the arc.

• Wesley is a 6-4 senior from Phoenix, Arizona by way of South Mountain C.C. Wesley started in all 29 contests and shot 49 percent from the floor, including 32.8 percent from the arc. He also connected on 86.3 percent from the free throw line to rank fourth in the GLVC. 

• Jaden Flournoy is a 6-6 forward from Grand Prairie, Texas by way of Elizabeth City State. He played in 25 games and made four starts last season while averaging eight points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Flournoy shot 52.1 percent from the floor

William Jewell
• The Cardinals were picked 10th out of 15 schools in the GLVC Preseason Poll with 96 points. William Jewell posted a 12-16 overall record and a 9-11 mark in the GLVC in 2024-25.

• The Cardinals lost their leading scorer from last year in Jordan Jermain, who averaged 21.3 points and connected on 84 three-pointers. Jason Thirdkill Jr. is also gone as the team's second-leading scorer at 17 points per night. He shot 52.1 percent from the field, including 38.2 percent from the arc.

• Justice Sutton is back, but played in just two games and scored 29 points. The redshirt sophomore from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma is a rangy 6-7 guard, who will be looked upon to shoulder the scoring load.

• Bradley Lightbourne is a redshirt senior from the Bahamas at 6-4. Lightbourne played in 22 games and made 12 starts for the Cardinals last season. He averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while dishing out 32 assists and committing just 21 turnovers.

LIVE COVERAGE
Friday, Nov. 14 vs. Rockhurst (6:30 PM) - Live Video ($) - Live Stats
Saturday, Nov. 15 at William Jewell (5:00 PM) - Live Video ($) - Live Stats